<p><em>Fr. Robert Hale, OSB Cam., Prior</em></p>
<p>In the Gospel of John, Jesus tells his apostles right before his crucifixion, “You will grieve for a time…then your hearts will rejoice, with a joy that no one can take from you” (Jn. 16:20,22).&nbsp; Don’t we all yearn for an abiding joy in our hearts?<br />So when is that “then” that Jesus refers to? When will we have a joy that no one can take from us? At the end of the world?&nbsp; When we die and enter into heaven?</p>
<p>Rather, Johannine scholars like Fr. Raymond Brown insist that Jesus is referring to&nbsp;his return at Easter, his Resurrectional appearances that guarantee to the apostles and disciples--and to us-- our own redemption and eternal life. And that assurance, the scholars say, is sealed at Pentecost, when Christ’s Spirit enters our minds and hearts in a particularly full way and we possess that abiding joy now.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Here at the Hermitage, our guests and retreatants often tell us that spending some quiet time here affords them the rare gift of stillness when Jesus’ promise of the “joy that no one can take from you” is experienced. We live in a world where we are so busy, called to keep on “doing” and often unable to sit in the stillness of God and of “being”. We monks realize how blessed we are to have this focus on God and his joy in our daily lives. We invite you to come and spend whatever time you can to savor the joy for yourself.</p>
<p>May God’s blessings be upon you.</p>