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Gospel Reading for May 15, 2026 – John 16: 20-23
PRICELESS
Jesus said to his disciples: “Amen, amen, I say to you, you will weep and mourn, while the world rejoices; you will grieve, but your grief will become joy. When a woman is in labor, she is in anguish because her hour has arrived; but when she has given birth to a child, she no longer remembers the pain because of her joy that a child has been born into the world. So you also are now in anguish. But I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy away from you. On that day you will not question me about anything. Amen, amen, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in my name he will give you.”
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Jesus said these words before he was arrested. He was forewarning his disciples of the sorrow they would soon experience, yet at the same time reassuring them that their grief would not last forever. Their sorrow would eventually be turned into joy.
From the Gospel narratives, we can see that the disciples did not fully grasp what Jesus meant. Otherwise, they might not have fled when he was arrested. John, however, who wrote this Gospel, must have listened deeply to the words of Jesus. That is why, he stayed with Jesus up to his death on the cross, and when he saw the empty tomb, he immediately understood and believed.
In our own lives, there will be times when, despite striving to be faithful Christians in both word and deed, we will still experience pain, rejection, and grief, while those who persecute or mock us seem to rejoice. At times, the hurt can become so heavy that we feel tempted to give up living the Christian life. Yet often, it is precisely when we are on the verge of giving up that we encounter God’s comforting and joyful presence most deeply.
Sometimes, all it takes is a little more time and a little more patience for our grief to be transformed into joy. God will never fail us, because GOD NEVER FAILS. For some, the fruits of serving as workers in his vineyard may only become visible after many years. But when the harvest finally comes, we will realize that every sacrifice, every tear, and every act of faithfulness was truly worth it.
Let us always remember that eternal life is PRICELESS. It cannot be bought even with trillions of money, nor can it be attained by the most powerful person in the world. When we keep our hearts fixed on this eternal promise, everything we do during our earthly life will be directed toward what is good, loving, and life-giving for others. And it is this kind of life that brings true joy and lasting happiness.
Let us ponder these beautiful words from the Christian Gospel song, You Turn My Sorrow Into Joy:
When the night was all around me
and my heart could not find rest,
you spoke peace into my spirit,
lifted burdens from my chest.
You turn my sorrow into joy,
my mourning into praise!
Your mercy lifts me from the ashes,
Your love restores my day.
When I thought the road was ended,
you reminded me of grace —
every tear became a witness to
the kindness of your way.
You turn my sorrow into joy,
my mourning into praise!
Your mercy lifts me from the ashes,
Your love restores my day.
