John 16: “Your Sorrow Will Turn into Joy”
1. “I Have Said These Things to Keep You from Falling Away”
“I have said all this to you to keep you from falling away. They will put you out of the synagogues; indeed, the hour is coming when whoever kills you will think he is offering service to God.” (Jn 16:1–2)
Christ’s first gift to the Apostles is honesty: He forewarns them so that persecution will not shake faith.
True prophecy strengthens endurance, not fear.
St Augustine writes:
“He foretold their sufferings not to frighten them, but to arm them; for foreknown blows hurt less.”
(Tractates on John 88.1)
The expulsion from the synagogue prefigures the Church’s separation from Judaism — a painful yet necessary distinction between the old covenant and the new.
St Bede the Venerable notes:
“The synagogue cast them out; heaven received them in. What was loss on earth was gain in eternity.”
(Homilies on the Gospels, I.22)
Even religious zeal can persecute truth when love is lacking.
2. “They Have Not Known the Father, Nor Me”
“They will do this because they have not known the Father, nor Me.” (v. 3)
Ignorance of God breeds violence.
To “know” in Scripture means not mere information but intimate recognition.
Those who reject Christ reveal their estrangement from the Father.
St Ambrose comments:
“He excuses while He foretells; they sin through blindness, not knowledge. Therefore He warns, not condemns.”
(On the Holy Spirit II.16)
This verse prepares for the Spirit’s mission: to enlighten hearts that do not yet know God.
3. “I Did Not Say These Things at the Beginning”
“But I have said these things to you, that when their hour comes you may remember that I told you of them.” (v. 4)
The Lord had previously withheld these warnings, knowing the disciples were not yet ready.
Grace unfolds gradually.
St Bede explains:
“He taught the weak what they could bear, and reserved the harder sayings for hearts made stronger by love.”
(Homilies on the Gospels, I.22)
This divine pedagogy models pastoral wisdom: truth must be timed to readiness.
4. “It Is to Your Advantage That I Go Away”
“Now I am going to Him who sent Me… It is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Counsellor will not come to you.” (vv. 5,7)
Here is one of the most mysterious sentences in Scripture.
How can Christ’s departure be gain?
Because His visible presence makes way for His invisible indwelling through the Spirit.
St Augustine teaches:
“He withdrew in body that we might approach in faith; He ascended outwardly that He might descend inwardly.”
(Tractates on John 92.1)
The Spirit does not replace Christ but communicates His life universally.
St Ambrose adds:
“Christ’s going is not absence but transformation; He goes from sight to sacrament, from presence beside to presence within.”
(On the Holy Spirit III.12)
5. The Work of the Holy Spirit: Convicting the World
“When He comes, He will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgement.” (v. 8)
The Spirit’s mission has threefold power: conviction of sin, revelation of righteousness, and exposure of false judgement.
(a) Concerning Sin
“Because they do not believe in Me.” (v. 9)
The root of sin is unbelief — rejection of grace.
Faith is the door to forgiveness.
St Augustine comments:
“The Spirit reproves the world not by punishing but by enlightening; He convinces the heart that unbelief is the greatest sin.”
(Tractates on John 93.2)
(b) Concerning Righteousness
“Because I go to the Father, and you will see Me no more.” (v. 10)
Christ’s Ascension proves His righteousness — the innocence vindicated by resurrection.
His return to the Father is divine approval.
St Bede writes:
“He who was judged by men is justified by God; the Spirit declares His righteousness to all ages.”
(Homilies on the Gospels, I.22)
(c) Concerning Judgement
“Because the ruler of this world is judged.” (v. 11)
Satan’s defeat is the climax of the Spirit’s witness.
The Cross condemns the prince of darkness and liberates mankind.
St Ambrose says:
“The devil is judged when the faithful are justified; for grace’s acquittal is hell’s sentence.”
(On the Holy Spirit III.13)
6. “I Have Many Things to Say to You”
“I have yet many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now.” (v. 12)
Christ respects the slow growth of comprehension.
The Spirit will unfold what Christ has sown.
St Augustine notes:
“The Lord had much to say, yet withheld, that the Spirit might teach within; for what is spoken outwardly is learnt inwardly only by grace.”
(Tractates on John 94.1)
Christian understanding is lifelong maturation in the school of the Paraclete.
7. “The Spirit of Truth Will Guide You into All the Truth”
“When the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all the truth.” (v. 13)
This is the promise of infallible guidance for the Church.
The Spirit leads not into novelty but into depth — the whole truth already present in Christ.
St Bede comments:
“He guides, not drags; He teaches gradually, not suddenly; He leads the willing, not the proud.”
(Homilies on the Gospels, I.22)
St Augustine writes:
“All truth is in Christ; the Spirit leads us into it as into a treasury long possessed but little known.”
(Tractates on John 96.3)
Thus, Catholic doctrine grows in understanding, not in alteration.
8. “He Will Glorify Me”
“He will glorify Me, for He will take what is Mine and declare it to you.” (v. 14)
The Spirit glorifies Christ by revealing His divinity to believers.
He is the light that makes the Word visible.
St Ambrose teaches:
“The Spirit glorifies the Son when He makes Him known; the Son glorifies the Father when He makes Him obeyed.”
(On the Holy Spirit III.14)
“All that the Father has is Mine; therefore I said that He will take what is Mine.” (v. 15)
This reveals the unity of the Trinity:
the Father possesses all, the Son shares all, the Spirit communicates all.
St Augustine concludes:
“Nothing belongs to the Father that is not the Son’s, nothing belongs to the Son that the Spirit does not share; the gift is one, the essence one, the love one.”
(Tractates on John 97.2)
9. “A Little While, and You Will See Me No More”
“A little while, and you will see Me no more; again a little while, and you will see Me.” (v. 16)
This paradoxical saying refers first to His death and resurrection, but also to the Christian life: the rhythm of absence and presence.
St Bede writes:
“The first ‘little while’ ended at the Cross; the second will end at the coming of glory. Meanwhile, faith fills the space between.”
(Homilies on the Gospels, I.22)
The Church lives in this “little while” — longing yet believing.
10. The Disciples’ Confusion and Christ’s Patience
“They said to one another, ‘What does He mean by “a little while”?’” (v. 18)
Even after years with Christ, the disciples still struggle to grasp spiritual truth.
Their confusion evokes no rebuke.
St Augustine remarks:
“He suffered their questionings as He suffered the Cross — for love; for He preferred patience with the ignorant to display before the wise.”
(Tractates on John 98.3)
Christ teaches gently, revealing that ignorance honestly confessed invites revelation.
11. “You Will Weep and Lament, but Your Sorrow Will Turn into Joy”
“Truly, truly, I say to you, you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice; you will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn into joy.” (v. 20)
This verse describes not only Holy Saturday but the rhythm of all Christian discipleship — sorrow transfigured into joy.
St Bede notes:
“The sorrow of the faithful is labour; their joy, birth. Every grief borne for Christ becomes the seed of joy in Him.”
(Homilies on the Gospels, I.22)
Suffering is never final where love abides.
12. The Woman in Labour
“When a woman is in travail she has sorrow, because her hour has come; but when she is delivered of the child, she no longer remembers the anguish.” (v. 21)
This image, beloved by the Fathers, links the Cross with childbirth.
The Church is born from Christ’s Passion as from a mother’s pain.
St Augustine comments:
“The Lord Himself travailed on the Cross, giving birth to us by His blood; and the Church, in turn, labours to bring forth new children in faith.”
(Tractates on John 101.1)
Pain becomes productive when united with Christ.
13. “Your Joy No One Will Take from You”
“So you have sorrow now, but I will see you again and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you.” (v. 22)
The resurrection joy is permanent because it rests not on circumstance but on communion.
St Bede writes:
“The joy given by Christ is like Himself — unchangeable, eternal, divine.”
(Homilies on the Gospels, I.22)
Earthly happiness is vulnerable; the joy of the Spirit is indestructible.
14. “Ask, and You Will Receive”
“In that day you will ask nothing of Me. Truly, truly, I say to you, if you ask anything of the Father in My name, He will give it to you.” (v. 23)
Faith matured by resurrection learns to pray directly to the Father through the Son.
St Ambrose says:
“To pray in His name is to enter into His merits; the Father hears the Son in every son who prays by faith.”
(On the Holy Spirit III.15)
Prayer becomes participation in the Son’s own communion with the Father.
15. “Ask, and You Will Receive, That Your Joy May Be Full”
“Until now you have asked nothing in My name; ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.” (v. 24)
The purpose of prayer is not acquisition but joy — the joy of union with God.
St Augustine remarks:
“Full joy is not in the gift but in the giver; we receive that we may rejoice in Him who gives.”
(Tractates on John 102.2)
True prayer ends in thanksgiving, not possession.
16. “The Father Himself Loves You”
“The Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me and have believed that I came from God.” (v. 27)
This is the revelation of divine intimacy.
No distant monarch, but a Father whose love embraces all who believe.
St Bede the Venerable comments:
“Love for the Son opens the heart of the Father; faith in the Incarnation admits us into the divine household.”
(Homilies on the Gospels, I.22)
Faith in the Son introduces us into the circle of the Trinity.
17. “I Came from the Father and Have Come into the World”
“I came from the Father and have come into the world; again, I am leaving the world and going to the Father.” (v. 28)
Here Christ compresses the whole Gospel into one sentence:
Incarnation, mission, redemption, Ascension.
St Augustine writes:
“He came without leaving the Father; He returns without leaving us; He descends in mercy, ascends in majesty.”
(Tractates on John 103.2)
The eternal Word moves without change, acting within time while remaining beyond it.
18. “Now You Are Speaking Plainly”
“His disciples said, ‘Ah, now You are speaking plainly, not in any figure!’” (v. 29)
The Apostles glimpse understanding but not yet steadfastness.
Their confidence still needs testing.
St Ambrose observes:
“They thought they understood because they were comforted, but the Cross would soon prove how little they yet knew.”
(On the Mysteries 40)
Faith matures only through the shock of suffering.
19. “Behold, the Hour Is Coming When You Will Be Scattered”
“Behold, the hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, every man to his home, and will leave Me alone; yet I am not alone, for the Father is with Me.” (v. 32)
Christ predicts their weakness without withdrawing His love.
The Shepherd knows the sheep will flee, yet still He walks to Calvary for them.
St Augustine notes:
“He is alone, yet not alone; for love forsaken by men is upheld by God.”
(Tractates on John 104.1)
Even in solitude, the Son abides in communion with the Father — the model of all perseverance.
20. “Be of Good Cheer; I Have Overcome the World”
“I have said this to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” (v. 33)
The discourse closes with triumph.
Peace in Christ does not exclude tribulation but conquers it.
Victory precedes the battle — already won in the heart of divine love.
St Bede concludes:
“He overcame by yielding, conquered by suffering, triumphed by dying; for the Cross turned the world’s victory into defeat.”
(Homilies on the Gospels, I.22)
St Augustine adds:
“The world is conquered not by the sword but by the faith that endures; our victory is His grace.”
(Tractates on John 104.4)
21. Theological Summary
| Theme | Revelation |
| Persecution foretold | Faith strengthened by prophecy |
| Spirit promised | Conviction, guidance, and glorification of Christ |
| Sorrow into joy | Passion leading to resurrection |
| Prayer in Christ’s name | Union with divine will |
| The Father’s love | Adoption through faith |
| Victory of peace | Triumph of grace over the world |
St Augustine summarises:
“He speaks of sorrow, but ends in joy; of persecution, but ends in peace; of the world, but ends in victory. Such is the pattern of the Church until He comes again.”
(Tractates on John 105.1)
22. Moral and Spiritual Application
Expect suffering. To follow Christ is to share His Cross.
Trust the Paraclete. The Spirit alone interprets pain as grace.
Pray in Christ’s name. Let every petition end in “Thy will be done.”
Live in peace amid turmoil. Christ’s victory is already ours in faith.
Turn sorrow into service. Every trial can become fruitful love when united with His Passion.
23. Christ the Conqueror and the Spirit of Truth
| Symbol | Fulfilment |
| Sorrow and joy | Passion and resurrection |
| Labour and birth | The Church born from the Cross |
| Spirit’s conviction | Conversion of hearts |
| Prayer in His name | Communion of Son and Father |
| “Overcome the world” | Final victory of grace |
St Ambrose concludes:
“He leaves not fear but fortitude; not grief but grace; not defeat but peace — for He has overcome the world and left us His victory.”
(On the Holy Spirit III.18)
24. Closing Prayer
Lord Jesus Christ, Victor of the Cross and Giver of the Spirit,
You foretold our trials and promised Your peace.
Send us the Counsellor, the Spirit of truth,
to comfort our hearts, strengthen our faith,
and turn all our sorrows into joy.
Teach us to pray in Your name,
to live in the Father’s love,
and to rejoice in Your victory over the world.
Who live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever. Amen.
St. Mary's, St. John Bosco and St. Edward's 