It is better for you that I go

27 MAY (Jn 16,5-11)

There comes a time in our lives when it is right, because it is the will of God, that we leave this world. We deliver the dresses and mission to others. This is most pure law of life. We must all prepare to this delivery. This means always living our mission as a momentary and fleeting gift. Ancient Scripture tells us the very impressive ceremony of the spoliation of Aaron.

Setting out from Kadesh, the whole Israelite community came to Mount Hor. There at Mount Hor, on the border of the land of Edom, the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “Aaron is about to be taken to his people; he shall not enter the land I am giving to the Israelites, because you both rebelled against my commandment at the waters of Meribah. Take Aaron and his son Eleazar and bring them up on Mount Hor. Then strip Aaron of his garments and put them on his son Eleazar; for there Aaron shall be taken in death.” Moses did as the Lord commanded. When they had climbed Mount Hor in view of the whole community, Moses stripped Aaron of his garments and put them on his son Eleazar. Then Aaron died there on top of the mountain. When Moses and Eleazar came down from the mountain, all the community understood that Aaron had passed away; and for thirty days the whole house of Israel mourned him (Num 20,22-29).

Even Moses had to leave his power to Joshua. It was now his time.

The Lord said to Moses, “The time is now approaching for you to die. Summon Joshua, and present yourselves at the meeting tent that I may give him his commission.” So Moses and Joshua went and presented themselves at the meeting tent. And the Lord appeared at the tent in a column of cloud, which stood still at the entrance of the tent. The Lord said to Moses, “Soon you will be at rest with your fathers, and then this people will take to rendering wanton worship to the strange gods among whom they will live in the land they are about to enter. They will forsake me and break the covenant which I have made with them. At that time my anger will flare up against them; I will forsake them and hide my face from them, so that they will become a prey to be devoured, and many evils and troubles will befall them. At that time they will indeed say, ‘Is it not because our God is not among us that these evils have befallen us?’ Yet I will be hiding my face from them at that time only because of all the evil they have done in turning to other gods. Write out this song, then, for yourselves. Teach it to the Israelites and have them recite it, so that this song may be a witness for me against the Israelites. For when I have brought them into the land flowing with milk and honey which I promised on oath to their fathers, and they have eaten their fill and grown fat, if they turn to other gods and serve them, despising me and breaking my covenant; then, when many evils and troubles befall them, this song, which their descendants will not have forgotten to recite, will bear witness against them. For I know what they are inclined to do even at the present time, before I have brought them into the land which I promised on oath to their fathers.” So Moses wrote this song that same day, and he taught it to the Israelites. Then the Lord commissioned Joshua, son of Nun, and said to him, “Be brave and steadfast, for it is you who must bring the Israelites into the land which I promised them on oath. I myself will be with you” (Cf. Dt 31,14-23).

Jesus is the true and perfect man. He also needs to close with the visibility of his mission. If He does not close, his mission will be useless, because it will be very limited, it will also be missing in its completion. It will not even be true a mission of salvation. True salvation is from his death. From his pierced body flows the Holy Spirit and the blood of grace. His pierced and risen body is transformed into Eucharist for us. If he does not go away, all of these divine gifts are not produced and humanity will remain in its sin. For this reason it is good that he is goes away. He has to leave also because without the Holy Spirit, the disciples cannot be perfect missionaries.

But now I am going to the one who sent me, and not one of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ But because I told you this, grief has filled your hearts. But I tell you the truth, it is better for you that I go. For if I do not go, the Advocate will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. And when he comes he will convict the world in regard to sin and righteousness and condemnation: sin, because they do not believe in me; righteousness, because I am going to the Father and you will no longer see me; condemnation, because the ruler of this world has been condemned.

 Virgin Mary, Mother of the Redemption, Angels and Saints teach us our times.