Faith Daily | 28 May 2022

PRAYER of the DAY - APBA p 514

Eternal God,

whose Son Jesus Christ is the way, the truth and the life:

grant that we may walk in his way,

rejoice in his truth,

and share his risen life;

who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and for ever.

Amen

GOSPEL for the Day: John 16: 23-28

23On that day you will ask nothing of me. Very truly, I tell you, if you ask anything of the Father in my name, he will give it to you. 24Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be complete.

25 ‘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. 26On that day you will ask in my name. I do not say to you that I will ask the Father on your behalf; 27for the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God. 28I came from the Father and have come into the world; again, I am leaving the world and am going to the Father.’

GOSPEL REFLECTION: Meredith Nicholls

While Jesus was alive and leading his band of disciples, the disciples were well provided for. They received teaching, both theory and practical through the many discussions and dialogues Jesus had with many people and the battery of challenges and accusations from the religious hierarchy of the day. Then there were the miracles of healing they had the joy of witnessing. He held them together in unity and their physical, spiritual and emotional needs were met by being in relationship with him.

All this was shortly no longer going to be available to them. Alongside the pain of losing their beloved leader is the loss of all their security.

Jesus, the master of consolation, comforts his loved disciples by revealing to them that all he has provided for them will still be available – they just need to ask.

John tells us that in asking in the name of Jesus, the disciples will in effect be asking God directly (V 26,27). This is possible because of their faith and God’s reciprocal love for them as believers in his Son Jesus (v27).

As Jesus returns to his Father it completes the full, eternal circle that encompasses all of creation – forever.

FINAL PRAYER

I will sing in my heart to you O God.

Your love and faithfulness is boundless, overflowing and forever.

I desire to love You with all sincerity.

Help me to try always to live according to Your truth

So that I may bring joy and peace to Your heart.

Amen