Jesus said to his disciples: “If you know me, then you will also know my Father. From now on you do know him and have seen him. ”Philip said to Jesus, “Master, show us the Father, and that will be enough for us. ”Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you for so long a time and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on my own. The Father who dwells in me is doing his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else, believe because of the works themselves. Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever believes in me will do the works that I do, and will do greater ones than these ,because I am going to the Father. And whatever you ask in my name, I will do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything of me in my name, I will do it.”
REFLECTION
"If you ask anything of me in my name, I will do it.”
This line had me bewildered, confused, and perhaps not sure if I should trust Jesus. After all, my prayers were not answered, though I was desperate and felt them necessary. It is very difficult to understand His response, without surrendering my will to His and trusting in His love.
The opportunity to reach out to God might not necessarily be the appropriate time to be asking. I was in a state of panic and not necessarily in love with Him, but wanted to see what He had to offer. After all, He did say, "If you ask anything of me in my name, I will do it." I would think if my prayers were unanswered, maybe, I need to say a different name, bow down more, allow more tears to flow. Repeat myself, perhaps not in a whisper, as maybe Jesus did not hear me. I wanted and I took full responsibility for doing all that I could to get it.
In the legal sense, prayer is a specific request for judgment, relief and or damages at the conclusion of a complaint or a petition. A prayer gives the judge an idea of what is sought, and may become the basis of a judgment if the defendant defaults (fails to file an answer). Legalistically, I was a frustrated child, kicking the vending machine and asking for my money back.
As we petition God for our needs and wants, we might need help consolidating our thoughts, why we are where we are and are we approaching the situation with love and not pride or a need to save grace. When we talk with God do we have love, kindness and patience? Do our prayers bring us to obedience to His will and to share in His divine love?
Jesus is trustworthy. Never abandon your prayers and never abandon God.
