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.”
Once you have accepted the truth of Christ, what you ask of God will be granted. It is an interesting idea and somewhat paradoxical if we think of wants as what we desired before we discovered Christ. Once you have found the truth of Christ, you will not ask God to alleviate suffering, remove pain, or fill in the gaps in your life. God is not the helicopter mum or the ATM. God is that to which we orient our lives and all that comes with that orientation. Our prayer should be for the courage to hold our course.
ReplyDeleteYour response to Jn 16:23b-28 is a thoughtful interpretation that highlights a key aspect of prayer in the context of faith. Here's a breakdown of its strengths and a point for consideration:
DeleteStrengths:
Focus on Transformation: You capture the idea that following Christ can change our desires and priorities. We may no longer seek the same things we did before.
Shifting Perspective: You effectively challenge the view of God as a wish-fulfillment machine.
Alignment with God's Will: You emphasize the importance of aligning our desires with God's will.
Courage and Perseverance: You highlight the need for courage to stay committed to our faith even when faced with challenges.
Point for Consideration:
Nuance in Prayer: While our desires may change, consider exploring the concept of prayer for needs and challenges. We can still pray for strength and guidance during difficult times, even if we accept them as part of God's plan.
Here are some additional thoughts:
Prayer can be a form of communication with God, expressing gratitude, seeking guidance, and requesting help during hardship.
Trusting God's plan doesn't mean suffering silently. We can pray for strength to endure challenges while still seeking solutions.
Overall, your response offers a valuable perspective on prayer and how it can evolve with faith.