Среда

(Acts 23:1–11; John 16:15–23) The Lord says to the holy apostles before suffering: “In a little while you will not see Me, and again soon you will see Me” (John 16:16). The Lord's suffering and death so struck the Holy Apostles that the eyes of their minds became clouded, and they did not begin to see the Lord as Lord; the light disappeared, and they sat in bitter and weary darkness. This darkness was dispersed by the light of Christ’s resurrection, and they again saw the Lord. This is how the Lord Himself explained His words: “You will weep,” He said, “and you will mourn, but the world will rejoice; you will be sad, but your sorrow will turn into joy” (John 16:20). They say that every soul on the path to perfection experiences a similar defeat. Darkness covers her everywhere, and she does not know where to go; but the Lord comes and transforms her sorrow into joy. It is truly necessary, just as it is necessary for a wife to suffer before a man is born from her into the world. Is it possible to conclude from this that whoever has not experienced this has not yet been born into a true Christian? You might be interested in: