Mass Readings:

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 into the world. Now I am leaving the world and going back to the Father."

Reflection: 

Flame, a reddish-brown horse gentle in spirit, stood ready for command. My father stood at the head of his new purchase giving his children their first experience in riding a horse.

What a thrill for the little ones! However, when it was my turn, I was clumsy and kicked the horse in the side as I tried to reach the stirrup with my foot. This didn’t help the horse’s disposition or my nerves, but I got on anyway with my father at the reigns. I was now riding upon a saddle, sitting at a height I had never been before. As a child, I would never imagine taking the reign on an animal 20 times larger than me and was so glad my dad was there. It was a wonderful experience despite the rough beginning. Now as an adult, I can only imagine my father’s joy in watching his children enjoy riding a horse.

Can we read this quote as if we are one with Jesus, replacing the word “I” with your own name? “I came from the Father and have come into the world. Now I am leaving the world and going back to the Father." We can easily acknowledge where we come from, however it is harder for us to know what we are doing in this world as Jesus knew what to do. We should rely on our love for Jesus to bring us to the Father. It will lead us to ask the right questions, in the name of Jesus, so our “joy will be complete”.

Like a child, we should climb the mount given to us by the Father. His love will guide us as if it is His hands were on the reigns of a horse and he will bring us to a new height. If we take control of the reign or our love from the Father, the world will take us on a ride down the wrong path. In the end, we will leave this world and are destined to return to the Father. It won’t be so hard to get back to Him if we keep the love of God with us.

Let us pray for priest to nurture their love for the Father through Jesus and for the gift of chastity.