Amen, amen, I say to you, you will weep and mourn, while the world rejoices; you will grieve, but your grief will become joy.” ( Jn 16: 20).
God is good, all the time!
Tomorrow we begin the novena to the Holy Spirit. And as I have said, the novena to the Holy Spirit is a beautiful nine-day prayer time to get us prepared for Pentecost. You can use the format and prayers we are proposing for our parish. However, you choose any format and prayers that work for you.
I will be sending the prayers each morning, so we all have access. Implore the Holy Spirit for the joy he brings of which Jesus says: "Amen, amen, I say to you, you will weep and mourn, while the world rejoices; you will grieve, but your grief will become joy."
After talking to the apostles that he would send the Holy Spirit to them, Jesus promises them with a remarkable quality of the Holy Spirit that they would experience once he is with the— joy that helps one to rise over limitations of pain and sorrow to enjoy "habits of eternity."
What Jesus promises is a special kind of joy. The Holy Spirit is a joy! And what he wants for us is sharing his joy with us. This is the kind of joy we all need to keep us focused on the habits of eternal life.
Prayer blessings: Come Holy Spirit, creator blest. Come and fill me with your eternal joyful presence. Amen.