Sermon – “No one will take your joy away from you” (John 16:20-23a) – May 15, 2026

In the Bible, Jesus says: “You will grieve, but your grief will turn into joy… and no one will be able to take your joy away from you.” Jesus said these words to his disciples before he was crucified. They had not yet fully understood the suffering they were about to experience.

They would witness Jesus suffering and dying, and they would experience great sorrow. But Jesus had given them the good news beforehand: suffering would not be the last word. Resurrection would transform sorrow into eternal joy.

We too experience sorrows, fears, difficulties, and trials in our lives. Sometimes our hearts feel heavy, and we feel lost. But today Jesus reminds us that the sorrow of a person living with Him does not last forever. Because the presence of Christ gives meaning to our lives.

The greatest joy of a Christian is not living a life without problems. The greatest joy is knowing that Jesus is with us. We can speak with Him in prayer, we can find Him in the Eucharist, we can hear His voice in the Word of God. Saint Teresa of Avila says: “Let nothing frighten you, let nothing disturb you. God is sufficient.”

Whoever has Jesus possesses a treasure that the world can neither give nor take away. The world chases after fleeting pleasures: money, success, pleasure, fame… But all these pass. The joy given by Christ, however, is lasting. Because this joy stems from knowing that we are loved by God.

Saint John Paul II addressed young people, saying, “Do not be afraid! Open your hearts to Christ!” For when we open our hearts to Jesus, our lives gain light, hope, and meaning.

Today's Bible takes us even further: Jesus speaks to us of the eternal joy of Heaven. In this world, we know God through faith; but one day we will see Him face to face. Heaven is our true home. There we will be with Jesus forever. All the happiness in this world pales in comparison to the eternal joy we will experience in His presence.

Saint Augustine wrote: “Lord, you created us for yourself; our hearts find peace only in you.” The human heart longs for God, even if it is often unaware of it. And true, complete joy will only be achieved in eternal union with Jesus.

Just imagine: to see the face of Jesus, to hear his voice, to experience his merciful love forever… There would be no more tears, pain, fear, or death. Only eternal love.

Saint Teresa of Lisieux said, “I am not dying; I am entering life.” For the saints, Heaven was not a distant dream, but the greatest goal of life. Therefore, while we live in this world, we too should turn our eyes to Christ.

Every prayer, every ritual, every act of love, and every suffering offered to God draws us closer to Heaven. And even in our tears, we do not lose hope. For Jesus promised: “No one will ever take your joy away from you.”

Today, let us ask the Lord to allow us to experience the joy of His presence while we are still in this world, and one day to attain eternal joy in Heaven. May the Virgin Mary help us to always be ready to go to Heaven and meet Jesus.