We do not know what he means

29 MAY (Jn 16,16-20)

Never might a man understand the words, works and signs of his God, if he is not illuminated with the light of His divine intelligence by his God and Lord. The Book of Wisdom reveals this truth pointing us the way to possess all light, in the prayer.

For what man knows God’s counsel, or who can conceive what our LORD intends? For the deliberations of mortals are timid, and unsure are our plans. For the corruptible body burdens the soul and the earthen shelter weighs down the mind that has many concerns. And scarce do we guess the things on earth, and what is within our grasp we find with difficulty; but when things are in heaven, who can search them out? Or who ever knew your counsel, except you had given Wisdom and sent your holy spirit from on high? And thus were the paths of those on earth made straight, and men learned what was your pleasure, and were saved by Wisdom (Wis 9,13-18).

The Psalm also reveals us this non understanding of God in his great works, in his words and in his teachings. The light of God is needed to understand, but how much light can the eyes of our mind pack up? Little. Very little.

Surely God is good to Israel, To those who are pure in heart!But as for me, my feet came close to stumbling, My steps had almost slipped.For I was envious of the arrogant As I saw the prosperity of the wicked.For there are no pains in their death, And their body is fat.They are not in trouble as other men, Nor are they plagued like mankind. Therefore pride is their necklace; The garment of violence covers them.Their eye bulges from fatness; The imaginations of their heart run riot.They mock and wickedly speak of oppression; They speak from on high.They have set their mouth against the heavens, And their tongue parades through the earth.Therefore his people return to this place, And waters of abundance are drunk by them.They say, “How does God know? And is there knowledge with the Most High?”Behold, these are the wicked; And always at ease, they have increased in wealth.Surely in vain I have kept my heart pure And washed my hands in innocence;For I have been stricken all day long And chastened every morning.If I had said, “I will speak thus,” Behold, I would have betrayed the generation of Your children.When I pondered to understand this, It was troublesome in my sightUntil I came into the sanctuary of God; Then I perceived their end.Surely You set them in slippery places; You cast them down to destruction.How they are destroyed in a moment! They are utterly swept away by sudden terrors!Like a dream when one awakes, O Lord, when aroused, You will despise their form.When my heart was embittered And I was pierced within,Then I was senseless and ignorant; I was like a beast before You.Nevertheless I am continually with You; You have taken hold of my right hand.With Your counsel You will guide me, And afterward receive me to glory.Whom have I in heaven but You? And besides You, I desire nothing on earth.My flesh and my heart may fail, But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.For, behold, those who are far from You will perish; You have destroyed all those who are unfaithful to You.But as for me, the nearness of God is my good; I have made the Lord God my refuge, That I may tell of all Your works (Psalm 73 (72) 1-28).

The language of God is always incomprehensible. Man is asked to be clothed in humility, get in prayer, ask all light from his God. God is the one who gives the word and the light to understand it. He carries out works and gives the intelligence to interpret them, to see the instruction of God in them. If we separate words and light, works and intelligence, never will we understand anything of our God. Word and works are immediate. Light and intelligence can come later, much later. Meanwhile, the man of God holds all things in his heart, waiting for the Spirit of the Lord to make full light. History is the greatest work of God. Personal and community history, of individuals and nations. We ask God for all light. We enter the truth.

“A little while and you will no longer see me, and again a little while later and you will see me.” So some of his disciples said to one another, “What does this mean that he is saying to us, ‘A little while and you will not see me, and again a little while and you will see me,’ and ‘Because I am going to the Father’?” So they said, “What is this ‘little while’ (of which he speaks)? We do not know what he means.” Jesus knew that they wanted to ask him, so he said to them, “Are you discussing with one another what I said, ‘A little while and you will not see me, and again a little while and you will see me’? Amen, amen, I say to you, you will weep and mourn, while the world rejoices; you will grieve, but your grief will become joy.

Virgin Mary, Mother of the Redemption, Angels and Saints give us light and divine intelligence.