A reading from the holy Gospel according to John 16:23b-28
Jesus said to his disciples: "Amen, amen, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in my name he will give you. Until now you have not asked anything in my name; ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be complete.
" I have told you this in figures of speech. The hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures but I will tell you clearly about the Father. On that day you will ask in my name , and I do not tell you that I will ask the Father for you. For the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have come to believe that I came from God . I came from the Father and have come back into the world. Now I am leaving the world and going back to the Father. "
REFLECTION:
Do we pray in confidence to the Father? Jesus has been around his disciples for 3 years and has spoken to them in parables or figures of speech but this time he is speaking in plain speech. He has revealed the greatest treasure of the heavenly kingdom and he has taught them to pray. "The Father himself loves you".
The Lord will reward those who are faithful to Him, and will always listen to the prayers of those who trust Him. If we have any doubt about this, remember that Jesus' Love for us is so great that He died on the cross for us even though we do not deserve it.
It is because of this ultimate sacrifice that we know that Jesus loves us. "Ask and you will receive, and so your joy will be complete." When we seek our own desires and dreams, our own wants and needs, the consolation received is very fleeting. When we seek God's will and live in His Love, the consolations and joys of being in union with Jesus will be deep and lasting. He will definitely listen to all our needs with compassion and love.
PRAYER:
Dear Lord, we pray for the joy of doing your will.
Let us pray Meditation 3 of the Dekaena to the Holy Spirit. Amen
God bless.