The Catholic Calendar for Saturday, May 27, 2006
Saturday of the Sixth Week of Easter
St. Augustine of Canterbury

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Acts 18:23-28
Psalm 47:2-3, 8-10
John 16:23-28

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

"Ask and you shall receive, so that your joy may be complete."

Whatever you ask in the name of Jesus Christ will be granted to you. Many seem to think that if one prays for a million dollars and invokes the name of Jesus at the end of the prayer, one should receive a million dollars. That is so mistaken.

What does it mean to "ask in my name?" A name is an intimate identifier -- it is the identity of the person wrapped up in a single word. We have lost the sense of this, but it is a truth taught throughout the Bible. Moses is so called because he was "drawn from the water." Samuel is so named because he was born to a barren woman and was "asked of God." The name says something about the person, something deep and intimate.

To ask in Jesus’ name means that one is obliged to ask in the spirit of Jesus, the Holy Spirit. This Holy Spirit did not come down from heaven after the baptism and announce, "This is my beloved Son who is beloved because of his wealth." In His earthly life, Jesus did not teach the value of riches.

To pray in the name of Jesus means to pray in accord with the nature of Jesus, Son of God, humble and obedient. What we should ask for should always be couched in, "Thy will be done." To ask in Jesus’ name means to ask for the things that Jesus would ask for and to be ultimately surrendered to God's will. This prayer will always be answered, and its answer will always increase joy and delight in the Lord. "Your joy will be complete."

Praying in the name of Jesus is not merely using His name as a magical invocation at the end of the prayer; rather it is praying in the spirit of Christ, in the spirit of humble, obedient servants of the Lord.

- JuandelaCruz
(sriddle415 at yahoo dot com)