Jn 16:16-20
A little while, and you will see me no more; and then a little while, and you will see me.”
Some of the disciples wondered, “What does he mean by, ‘A little while, and you will not see me; and then a little while, and you will see me’? And why did he say, ‘I go to the Father’?” And they said to one another, “What does he mean by ‘a little while’? We don’t understand.”
Jesus knew that they wanted to question him; so he said to them, “You are puzzled because I told you that in a little while you will see me no more, and then a little while later you will see me.
Truly, I say to you, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn to joy.
REFLECTION
Among Christians, it is usually the case that one of the two spouses is more interested in religious matters than the other. But when both spouses are deeply interested in living out their Christian faith, the result is something beautiful to behold.
The couple mentioned in today’s first reading seems to have been completely dedicated to the spread of the Christian faith. This couple, Aquila and Prisca or Priscilla, is named four times in the New Testament. Paul is their guest in Corinth, and together they undertake to complete the religious formation of the famous preacher Apollos, who did not know of the existence of the Holy Spirit (Acts 18:26), and they had groups of Christians meeting regularly in their house (1 Cor 16:19). Of this couple Paul writes the following glowing praise: “Greet Prisca and Aquila, my co-workers in Christ Jesus, who risked their necks for my life, to whom not only I am grateful, but also all the churches of the Gentiles” (Rom 16:3-4). Incidentally, Prisca is named before her husband most of the time in these various passages, which suggests that she had a strong personality.
Committed Christian couples are always a great blessing to the Church.
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