Wednesday, August 27, 2014 (Monnica, mother of Augustine)

Wednesday August 27, 2014 

John 16:20-24

St. John, Chapters 13 through 17, gives us a glimpse into one of the most precious, private times in Jesus’ life and ministry.  The crowds are gone, all the religious scholars and rulers are gone, all the people seeking miracles are gone; Jesus is alone with only his closest disciples, during this final day or two before he is arrested, tortured, and put to death.  The author introduces this most intimate part of the fourth gospel by observing, “Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father.   Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.” [John 13:1]  As always, Jesus is concerned for others, consoling and strengthening his disciples even as he suffers great distress.  He humbly serves his disciples, washing their feet, and he teaches them about the One who will always walk with them: the Helper, Advocate, and Comforter: God’s Holy Spirit, who will represent Christ and constantly abide with and in every believer.

Today’s short reading, only part of one paragraph coming near the end of this private, loving time Jesus had with his disciples, brings them face to face with the horror he and they must now endure, and with their overwhelming joy that will follow:

“Truly, truly I say to you, you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice.” [v. 20a]

Along with the first disciples, we need to face the horror in this sentence.  Jesus, who had given his whole life for others, who had always shown God’s love, mercy, and righteousness, will now be tortured and executed publicly as a notorious criminal.  Public execution in the midst of a bloodthirsty mob is barbaric.  Added to the victim’s fear and terror of torture and death is the fierce rejection and spite expressed by the mob, as they rejoice and mock and delightfully celebrate the miserable fate of the friendless, condemned person they hate.  How much worse it must be when it is the wicked who condemn the righteous and joyfully celebrate the triumph of their evil ways.  Jesus faced just that, affirming, “the world will rejoice.”

“You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn into joy.” [v. 20b]

When Jesus predicts his death he generally speaks as well of his resurrection that will soon follow.  Now, this last day, as his suffering intensifies, he speaks of the joy that will follow.  Even so, the disciples are too weak really to believe, although they want to.  Instead, overwhelmed by fear, most of them will soon run away and desert the Master they love.  Only a very few, all of them women, will stay with Jesus faithfully until he dies and is buried.  Then they too mourn in overwhelming grief, grief so great all the disciples’ faith and trust in Jesus’ promise seems lost.

Even now, Jesus, always the patient teacher, gives his disciples an illustration: a woman suffering the anguish of labor pains and childbirth, for whom it all turns to great joy when her baby is delivered.

“So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you.” [v. 22]

It is at this point, after this explicit personal affirmation of the resurrection (“I will see you again”), that Jesus makes one of the most astounding, sweeping promises in the whole Bible:

“In that day, you will ask nothing of me.  Truly, truly I say to you, whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you.  Until now, you have asked nothing in my name.  Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.” [vv. 23-24]

What a promise! – It is for us who have put our trust in the Lord Jesus, who follow him as his disciples, who believe in our hearts that God raised him from the dead.  We are the people in whom, Jesus promised, the Holy Spirit will lead and guide, and in this guidance our prayers, the burdens we carry, will be in accordance with God’s will.  We may, indeed we will have great sorrow in this life, and the burden of unanswered prayer may often overwhelm us.  But, in God’s time and in God’s way, as we ask in the name of Christ Jesus, his promise is that we will receive what we have asked, and our joy will be full.

Today, we commemorate Monnica, mother of the great theologian Augustine of Hippo.  She, with many other mothers through the centuries, exemplified this kind of prayer.  Monnica was a devout Christian, fervent in her prayers and careful in raising her children to follow Christ.  Augustine, however, in his youth rebelled against Christ.  Monnica refused to give up on her son, but was constant and faithful in praying for him.  Even though Augustine considered his mother an embarrassment, she continued to importune bishops and church leaders who might influence and reach her son for Christ.  Eventually, not long before her death, Monnica had the supreme joy of seeing her prayers fulfilled, as, at the Easter Vigil of the year 387, Augustine was baptized in the basilica of Milan.

Collect for the day:

O God, who heard the prayers and gathered up the loving tears of Monnica for the conversion of her child Augustine,

Deepen our devotion, we pray, and help us to work in accordance with your will,that we may bring others, even our own kindred, to the knowledge and love of Jesus Christ;

Who is alive and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.  Amen.

- Robert Kruse