Peace and well

Daily reflection

15/05/2021

Gospel of saint John 16, 23-28

In the Gospel, Jesus continues to deepen both his relationship with the Father and the consequences that this union has for his followers: this time regarding his prayer.

Now that Jesus «returns to the Father,» who is the one who sent him into the world, he promises his disciples that the prayer they address to the Father in Jesus’ name will be effective. The Father and Christ are intimately united. The followers of Jesus, being united with him, are also united with the Father. The Father himself loves them, because they have accepted Christ. And that is why his prayer cannot not be heard, «so that your joy may be complete.»

Reflection:

The effectiveness of our prayer for Christ is explained by the fact that those of us who believe in him remain «incardinated» on his journey back to the Father: our union with Jesus, the Mediator, is ultimately union with the Father. Within that mysterious union – and not in a magic key – is how our prayer as Christians and as children makes sense.

When we pray, as well as when we celebrate the sacraments, we unite ourselves to Jesus Christ and our actions are also his actions. When we praise God, our voice joins that of Christ, who is always in an attitude of praise. When we ask for ourselves or intercede for others, our request does not go to the Father alone, but endorsed, united to that of Christ, who is also always in an attitude of intercession for the good of humanity and of each one of us. The key to Christian prayer lies in the slogan that Jesus has given us: «remain in me and I in you», «remain in my love.»

That is why the Father always hears our prayer. It is not so much that he responds to what we ask of him. We are the ones who at this moment respond to what he wanted before. Praying is like entering the realm of God. Of a God who wants our salvation, because he already loves us before we turn to him. Like when we went out to sunbathe, it was already shining. Like when we go to bathe in the water of a river or the sea, which was already there before we thought of it. By being in tune with God, through Christ and his Spirit, our prayer coincides with God’s saving will, and at that moment it is already effective.

Although we do not know in which direction the effectiveness of our prayer will be felt, we have been assured that it is already effective. Jesus told us: «Whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have already received it» (Mk 11:24). Above all because we ask in the name of Jesus, the Son in whom we are brothers, and therefore we too are children of a Father who loves us.

Fr. Antony Majeesh George Kallely, OFM.