John 16:23–28
Jesus said to his disciples, “Very truly, I tell you, if you ask anything of the Father in my name, he will give it to you. Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be complete. I have said these things to you in figures of speech. The hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures, but will tell you plainly of the Father. On that day you will ask in my name. I do not say to you that I will ask the Father on your behalf; for the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God. I came from the Father and have come into the world; again, I am leaving the world and am going to the Father.”
Reflection
• Do I realize that a request for something in “Jesus’ name” is to ask for something that will help to bring about God’s reign on earth? How would I pray when I say, “Thy will be done on earth.”
• While God’s kingdom is not “of this world,” in the sense of sharing this world’s values, am I ready to live the Beatitudes, and listen to and practice what Jesus teaches?