Friday Gospel Recharge Series
Friday Gospel Recharge
A Reflection on John 14: 6 - 14
(5th Friday of Eastertide, Year B of the Liturgical Calendar, 2024)
In Jesus name we pray
In the last two verses of this passage, Jesus makes a promise: anything we ask for in his name he will do it. To add the strength of this promise, Jesus says not once but twice: “I will do it.” So, if we ask for it, he will indeed fulfill our requests. Anything he does in response to prayer, however, is not for his own glorification - although we glorify him because our faith teaches us he is God- but for the majesty and glory of the Father in heaven. Jesus, in his ministry, did all things in the Father’s name, and so, to demonstrate this, he acts when we beseech him.
When we pray in Jesus's name, we can ask for anything that speaks to our hearts. If we desire winning the lottery, ask that in prayer; if we have a broken bone and want it to heal well with no complications, we can ask for healing in Jesus name; if we yearn for High Distinctions when facing academic challenges - again, ask in Jesus's name. However, many times our prayers don’t materialise right away, making us think Jesus isn’t listening. This assumption is wrong because Jesus always listens to us, as his Spirit resides in the sanctuary of our hearts. When Jesus doesn’t seem to respond, we must persist in prayer. Our perseverance signifies our reliance on divine providence rather than solely on our own strength. Sometimes, we might make that common mistake of not having praying earnestly enough. Perseverance and genuine prayer are two pivotal habits in the Christian prayer life.
When we fulfil the requisites and pray accordingly in Jesus name, it’s true that Jesus doesn’t grant all our prayers. Jesus has good reasons for this. The succinct answer is that Jesus knows what’s best for us, and sometimes, what we request may not align with our ultimate wellbeing, despite our innate pursuit to be happy. Indeed, if we are emotionally or physically broken, God desires healing in those areas, and it’s important that we petition God’s grace for healing. To neglect this would erroneously assume that God is indifferent, which is far from the truth. However, healing in these domains often involves a gradual process. In instances where things are not promptly improving, Jesus, in his infinite compassion, provide us with grace to endure the pain, transforming our sufferings into a source of beauty and a testament to his boundless love for us.
In the context of today’s Gospel, Jesus promises the disciples that he will sustain their vocations as disciples when they pray in his name. Jesus wants the world to know the Father’s love for them, and he chooses to only achieve this with our cooperation, now that he has risen and ascended to heaven. We cannot effectuate the conversion of the world through our own efforts alone; it necessitates the grace of God to transmute the heart of men through our testimony to Jesus. Therefore, St Paul urges that when we pray, we should do so in a manner that beseeches God to open doors for the Word to touch the hearts of many (Colossians 4:2-6).
Being a witness of Jesus is not solely arduous work; it also requires a rigorous way of life. It demands relinquishing worldly attachments and enduring significant trials and tribulations because of the world’s opposition to God’s message. When challenges cross our paths as witnesses, only the solace of God’s providence can alleviate the burdens inherent in the work of discipleship. Undoubtedly, the charity of God’s people, be it material or emotional support, eases some of the hardship, but the transient goods of this world pale in comparison to the enduring grace of God. When we implore God’s support, he lightens our load by sustaining us with the hope of the resurrection, the fortitude to persevere and all the other gifts of the Holy Spirit, empowering us to be effective agents in the world.
Heaven holds treasures for us- whether it be the reunion with lost loved ones, a perfect and glorified body, or eternal relief from trials and tribulations. Yet, the most sublime gift awaiting us is God himself. Nothing surpasses the gift of God over all other blessings he could bestow upon us. Let us pray in such a manner that we may be reunited with God once again. This is the one request that Jesus will never deny to those who sincerely seek this communion. In prayer, let us petition for the giver rather than solely for the gifts bestowed.
When we pray in Jesus's name, we can ask for anything that speaks to our hearts. If we desire winning the lottery, ask that in prayer; if we have a broken bone and want it to heal well with no complications, we can ask for healing in Jesus name; if we yearn for High Distinctions when facing academic challenges - again, ask in Jesus's name. However, many times our prayers don’t materialise right away, making us think Jesus isn’t listening. This assumption is wrong because Jesus always listens to us, as his Spirit resides in the sanctuary of our hearts. When Jesus doesn’t seem to respond, we must persist in prayer. Our perseverance signifies our reliance on divine providence rather than solely on our own strength. Sometimes, we might make that common mistake of not having praying earnestly enough. Perseverance and genuine prayer are two pivotal habits in the Christian prayer life.
When we fulfil the requisites and pray accordingly in Jesus name, it’s true that Jesus doesn’t grant all our prayers. Jesus has good reasons for this. The succinct answer is that Jesus knows what’s best for us, and sometimes, what we request may not align with our ultimate wellbeing, despite our innate pursuit to be happy. Indeed, if we are emotionally or physically broken, God desires healing in those areas, and it’s important that we petition God’s grace for healing. To neglect this would erroneously assume that God is indifferent, which is far from the truth. However, healing in these domains often involves a gradual process. In instances where things are not promptly improving, Jesus, in his infinite compassion, provide us with grace to endure the pain, transforming our sufferings into a source of beauty and a testament to his boundless love for us.
In the context of today’s Gospel, Jesus promises the disciples that he will sustain their vocations as disciples when they pray in his name. Jesus wants the world to know the Father’s love for them, and he chooses to only achieve this with our cooperation, now that he has risen and ascended to heaven. We cannot effectuate the conversion of the world through our own efforts alone; it necessitates the grace of God to transmute the heart of men through our testimony to Jesus. Therefore, St Paul urges that when we pray, we should do so in a manner that beseeches God to open doors for the Word to touch the hearts of many (Colossians 4:2-6).
Being a witness of Jesus is not solely arduous work; it also requires a rigorous way of life. It demands relinquishing worldly attachments and enduring significant trials and tribulations because of the world’s opposition to God’s message. When challenges cross our paths as witnesses, only the solace of God’s providence can alleviate the burdens inherent in the work of discipleship. Undoubtedly, the charity of God’s people, be it material or emotional support, eases some of the hardship, but the transient goods of this world pale in comparison to the enduring grace of God. When we implore God’s support, he lightens our load by sustaining us with the hope of the resurrection, the fortitude to persevere and all the other gifts of the Holy Spirit, empowering us to be effective agents in the world.
Heaven holds treasures for us- whether it be the reunion with lost loved ones, a perfect and glorified body, or eternal relief from trials and tribulations. Yet, the most sublime gift awaiting us is God himself. Nothing surpasses the gift of God over all other blessings he could bestow upon us. Let us pray in such a manner that we may be reunited with God once again. This is the one request that Jesus will never deny to those who sincerely seek this communion. In prayer, let us petition for the giver rather than solely for the gifts bestowed.
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