Acts 16:22-34 / John 16:5-11
It is often said that whenever God closes a door, He will open the windows.
But it would be more correct to say that whenever God closes a door, He will open all the other doors and all the windows as well.
God won't take away something and leave almost nothing in turn.
In His plan for us, God is more generous that we can ever think or imagine.
This is what Jesus meant when He told the disciples that it was for their good that He was going away, because unless He goes, the Advocate will not come to them.
So in going back to heaven, Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to the Church to be her Advocate.
And the Holy Spirit is in each of us, and united in the Holy Spirit, we will be able to use our gifts for the glory of God and for the mission of salvation.
So whenever something is taken away from us, or when we lose something, let us know that God is telling us this.
Something better will be given, or that something better will happen.
Let us ask the Holy Spirit, our Advocate, to guide us so that we can see the wonder of God's gifts and to give thanks to God for it.