the Third Week after Easter
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Daily Devotionals
John Gossner's Treasury
A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me. As soon as the woman is delivered of the child, she remembereth no more the anguish. John 16:16-21. For a small moment have I forsaken thee; but with great mercies will I gather thee. Isaiah 54:7.
As the Savior led His disciples, so He leads all His dear ones who cling to Him with their whole heart and suffer themselves unconditionally to be led by Him. They who lead themselves walk their own ways and know not the way of the Lord, the way of peace. The disciples were always happy and as if in heaven, when they saw Jesus and had Him in their midst. When they lost sight of Him, their hearts were filled with sorrow. Their joy was all the more heightened when they saw Him again after they had regarded Him as dead and lost. Thus Jesus still leads pious and earnest souls. He reveals Himself to them in great mercy; then they feel as if they were in heaven. He withdraws again from their eyes, and they feel as if they were in hell; they are in a state of deepest despair. He comes again, and their heaven becomes still more beautiful and glorious; more beautiful and glorious the oftener He imparts Himself to their heart, reveals His presence and mercy. On the other hand, their hell, their sorrow, their grief, becomes ever greater and more painful the oftener He hides Himself. They are unable to believe that they shall find Him and see Him again. Why do they not believe? Has He not said, ’’A little while, and ye shall see me and rejoice"? The poor soul believes and hopes this, but not in such a living and cheerful way that it does not feel grieved at His seeming absence. This grief it must feel, like the throes at the birth of higher joys which are prepared for it. Throes and grief must go before and accompany every birth. Then, should not the soul in which Christ, the best, the only true life, is to be born, feel the throes at this most joyful and blessed birth? The Crucified One can not be planted in your heart without the cross. The Man of sorrows can not become yours without sorrow.
My Jesus, as Thou wilt!
Though seen through many a tear,
Let not my star of hope
Grow dim or disappear:
Since Thou on earth hast wept
And sorrowed oft alone.
If I must weep with Thee,
My Lord, Thy will be done!
