Daily Scripture Reflection & Prayer: May 11, 2024

Date:   Saturday of the 6th Week of Easter

 Scripture Text:  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.”

Breaking the text open – background and summary:

The gospel text for today continues our weekday reading of Jesus’ “Final Discourse with the Disciples” before his arrest, crucifixion, death, and resurrection as recounted by John. As Jesus speaks of his Ascension following His resurrection, the disciples do not understand His words nor their meaning. It will not be until later that they will remember and understand. Jesus’ main message in this portion of His discourse is to inform the disciples that He is returning to the Father from whom He was sent. It is also to tell the disciples of the power of praying to the Father in the name of Jesus.  

Meditating on the text with personal questions:

Do I follow Jesus’ desire that I pray to the Father in Jesus’ name?

Praying:

LORD,  Almighty Father, I come to You this day, full of awe and praise for all You are, beyond human words, and give thanks to You for all that I am because of You, my  Creator. I beg of You to send your Spirit to give me the grace to cooperate with your transformative love and to follow in the footsteps of your beloved Son, Jesus Christ, whom You sent to dwell among us as our brother and to save us from sin and death. Grant that I may follow Jesus’ example, deny myself, pick up my cross, and follow. I ask this in the name of your Son, Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with You and the Spirit, one LORD, forever and ever. Amen.