In today’s Gospel passage from John, Jesus tells his disciples, “A little while and you will no longer see me, and again a little while later and you will see me.” It almost sounds like a game that you might play with a child. What does he mean?
Notice how, in his divinity, Jesus knows what they are thinking. He is then able to answer the question that was never vocalized.
The first thing that comes to mind for us today is likely that Jesus must be talking about his death and Resurrection as the two events. They will not see Jesus after his death, but they will see him after the Resurrection. Yes, the world rejoices at his death. Evil believes they have won. They were wrong. Very wrong. The victory is won by Christ.
Notice though how the disciples link his statement to his return to the Father. Ultimately, that is what this is about. Jesus will return to the Father and will be present to us in a different way going forward.
After the Ascension, Jesus is present in a different way to us. Yet, at the same time, we are invited into a deeper relationship with him in this different presence. He can be present to us now. We are not required to be residents of first century Galilee for Jesus to be with us. In being present to us now, he wants us to know him and love him in a profound way. He does not force it to happen. He offers it to us. He sends the invitation and asks us to accept it. Becoming one with the divine by being in relationship with God is the gift that he offers.
How does this relationship affect the rest of our lives? How do we approach everything else in the light of our faith? This relationship can, and should, permeate every aspect of our lives. It should affect all that we do and all that we think.