Friday - 6th Week of Easter

Gospel – John16: 20-23

Out of the Darkness

Church of Holy Sepulchre

 

Irma Garcia, teacher  

Amerie Jo Garza, 10  

Eva Mireles, teacher  

Xavier Lopez, 10  

Uziyah Garcia, 9    

Jose Flores, Jr, 10  

Lexi Rubio, 10

Nevaeh Alyssa Bravo, 10  

Eliahna Garcia, 10  

Annabell Guadalupe Rodriguez, 10  

Eliahana Cruz Torres, 10  

Jacklyn Cazares, 10  

Alithia Ramirez, 10  

Rojelio Torres, 10  

Jailah Nicole Silguero,10  

Jayce Carmelo Luevanos  

Alexandria Aniyah Rubio, 10  

Tess Mata, 10  

Makenna Lee Elrod, 10  

Layla Salazar, 10  

Miranda Mathis, 11

They were cheerleaders and baseball and basketball players, teachers and 4th graders, happy children, intelligent, devoted to family and friends, they loved to dance and sing, some just made their First Communion, others their first honor roll, artists and tumblers, they had the biggest heart and were the best of friends.  And they are gone, too soon and too violently to understand! 

This is what grief looks like!  This is how grief feels!  And this is what Jesus speaks about in today’s Gospel.  You will weep and mourn!  You will grieve!  You will be in pain and lost in your suffering and anguish!  But He also promises that the grief will change to joy!  “Your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy away from you.”

I must admit that, in the midst of this mind-numbing horrible event, it is difficult, if not impossible, to see beyond the sorrow to a point where we will smile once again.  But Jesus does remind us all to continue to believe, to pray to the Father!  Even in the midst of incredible pain, God does hear our cry and really does respond, at a time that is best for us and in a way that will bring us joy!  Either way, we trust and believe that God hears and answers our prayers.   

When darkness strangles the will to live, when days become endless nights, God of light, shine on us.  When no one seems to understand, when we walk and wait alone, God of love, embrace us with your presence.

Where there is despair, bring hope; where there is shame, give value and worth; where there is emptiness, bring fulfillment; where there is suffering in mind and body, bring healing. God of hope, hear our prayer for life.

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