Replies

May 19, 2014

“… All you ask in my name, I will give you.” (Jn 15:16)

A promise and assurance of Jesus to us believers, it is a continuation of his teaching about his relationship with the Father as well as an introduction of the Holy Spirit, the third person in the Triune God. Jesus speaks of the Holy Spirit which he affirms he will send. Indeed it is beyond human comprehension. He is already in them yet Jesus is going to send Him to them. If we take the simplistic meaning of this statement, our understanding is truly human but with the gift of faith it is a reality by which the loving God unites us with Him. Let us take for example, Jesus’ statement: “If you say to this mountain move there, it will.” Let us take the example of the reclamation areas. Did the project engineer say to the water to move over and give us the land? But Jesus says everything you ask in my name I’ll give, we are fast to explain. We may not seem to realize it, but Jesus must have given us another thing. Another example: A missionary once wanted to lead the parish youth to sing during the Sunday Mass. But he could not carry a tune himself. So he asked the group to recommend one who can really lead them to sing properly. The name of a former youth leader was suggested, one who had not been going to church for a long time already. The missionary talked to him and asked for his help to teach the youth to sing in church for Sunday masses. This youth leader agreed. Because of the choir, this young man returned to church and went to mass regularly.

“All you ask in my name, I will give you.”

One Bread, One Body

Language: English | Español

All Issues > Volume 30, Issue 3

<< Monday, May 19, 2014 >>

Acts 14:5-18
View Readings

Psalm 115:1-4, 15-16

John 14:21-26
Similar Reflections

"NO OTHER GODS"

"They shouted frantically, 'We are only men, human like you.' " —Acts 14:15

The first and most basic temptations are to try to be like gods (Gn 3:5), or even to try to be gods. For example, Peter refused to be treated like a god (Acts 10:26), while Herod accepted the title "god" (Acts 12:22-23). Herod, therefore, "died eaten by worms" (Acts 12:23). When Paul and Barnabas heard the crowd calling them gods by the names of "Hermes" and "Zeus," they realized how dangerous this temptation was. "They tore their garments and rushed out into the crowd" in order to correct the people's mistaken attribution of divinity to them (Acts 14:14-15). Contrary to what some cults teach, we are not gods.

Rather than each of us becoming one of the gods, God became one of us. He became a human being. Instead of making us man-gods, He became the God-Man. In this way, we don't become God, but we can have a share in His divine nature (2 Pt 1:4) and "become the very holiness of God" (2 Cor 5:21). We can even have God, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, make Their dwelling place within us (Jn 14:23). We are not gods; we are tabernacles and temples of God (1 Cor 6:19).

Be yourself. Be a human being transformed by the indwelling God.

Prayer: Father, with power may I bear witness for Your risen Son (see Acts 4:33).

Promise: "This much have I told you while I was still with you; the Paraclete, the Holy Spirit Whom the Father will send in My name, will instruct you in everything, and remind you of all that I told you." —Jn 14:25-26

Praise: When his wife became permanently bed-ridden, Alfred counted his blessings and was as loving a husband as ever.