The Door is Open

I tell you most solemnly, anything you ask for from the Father he will grant in my name. Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and so your joy will be complete.

Jn.16:23,24

Jesus encourages his disciples before his passion and death. He assures them, and me, that being a disciple opens a door into God the Father's presence where we can ask, receive and be joyful.

There seems to be three types of answers from God to my petitions; yes, no and not yet. I have to trust that all of these are the right answers. I can do that because Jesus tells us that God the Father loves us because we love his Son and believe in him (Jn.16:27). 

It comes back to belief and trust in what Jesus has promised. This gives me peace and joy, no matter what is going on in my life.

Thank you Jesus for being the doorway into the very throne room of God. I place my trust in you.

Saint Philip Neri, please pray for me.

Joy Germ

You are sad now, but I shall see you again, and your hearts will be full of joy, and that joy no one shall take from you.

Jn.16:22

Jesus continues to encourage his disciples before his passion and death. Yes, there will be grief but it will be overcome by an everlasting joy.

Joy is the hallmark of an authentic Christian. Pope Francis has said the Church is too full of people with long faces looking like they're stuck in Lent, never reaching Easter. Yes, there is the Cross, a time for tears but we don't stay there. Hope calls us forward and that leads to joy.

I step into today with the promise of joy that no one shall take away.

Jesus, your word always ends with the promise of joy. Let me be a joy germ in my day today.

Saint Philip Neri, please pray for me.

The Final Say

I tell you most solemnly, you will be weeping and wailing while the world will rejoice; you will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn to joy.

Jn.16:20

Jesus prepares his disciples for his coming crucifixion. He promises that their sorrow will not be the end of the story. Joy will have the final say.

Despair is born of hopelessness. A Christian is never hopeless, no matter what the disaster that befalls. It couldn't be worse than watching one in whom you placed all your hope, dreams and love being nailed to a cross. Yet Jesus said that sort of sorrow in a believer is never the end. It will be turned into joy.

This is big picture stuff. Pain demands my immediate attention. Hope says look beyond and believe. Sorrow will come but it will turn into joy.

Thank you Jesus for calling me to not look down but to look up. My joy is founded on you my Rock.
Saint Philip Neri, please pray for me.

 

But wait, there's more!

I still have many things to say to you but they would be too much for you now. But when the Spirit of truth comes he will lead you to the complete truth.

Jn.16:12,13

Jesus is telling his disciples they will not be left alone when he is gone, that the Holy Spirit will be with them and guide them further up and further in. 

This is the great "But wait! There's more...". Jesus knew his death on the cross wasn't the end of the Church, it was just the beginning.  The Church was being left in very capable hands, the hands of the third person of the Blessed Trinity. 

Our parish is about to launch an online Alpha Course. The online bit is a first for us. We need the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Come Holy Spirit...

Holy Spirit, give us guidance and wisdom as we reach out to people online, bringing them hope that only Jesus can give.

Saint Philip Neri, please pray for us.

Come Holy Spirit

It is for your own good that I am going because unless I go, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I do go, I will send him to you.

Jn.16:7

Jesus continues his final discourse to his disciples. He promises that his leaving will be good as it means the Holy spirit will then come to them.

Jesus is trying to convey that his coming death is not the end of the story. In fact, it is just the beginning. He makes the confusing, even outrageous claim that it is best for him to leave.  The disciples don't get the message, until Pentecost. Then the whole thing makes sense. 

I was blessed in being baptised in the Holy Spirit early in my Christian walk. I never had that period of uncertainty and confusion. I got the whole message from the start. Yielding to the Holy Spirit is not an optional extra. It's essential. 

Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love. Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created. And you shall renew the face of the earth.
Saint Philip Neri, please pray for us.

 

I Believe

I have told you this now before it happens, so that when it does happen you may believe.
Jn.14:29

Jesus is giving final instructions to his disciples before his passion and death. Why? So they may believe.

C. S. Lewis wrote there are three things fundamental to the outworking of a Christian life... baptism, communion and belief. Jesus wants me to believe in him, to believe in his promises, to believe in his Word. 

I'm about to attend Mass. With belief I enter into a wonderful place where I confess, where I'm fed by his Word and where I recite the Creed proclaiming my belief and where I'm fed by his body. What a glorious place! What a glorious life.

Jesus, I believe in you and your promises for me. Thank you Lord.
Saint Philip Neri, please pray for me.

Respect Leadership

As they visited one town after another, they passed on the decisions reached by the apostles and elders in Jerusalem, with instructions to respect them. So the churches grew strong in the faith, as well as growing daily in numbers.
Acts.16:4,5

Paul and Silas are joined by Timothy. They continue their missionary journey, focussing on building up the new churches, passing on teaching and instruction from the Church leadership in Jerusalem. 

Right from the beginning the Church created lines of authority. The Apostles and elders in Jerusalem were trusted as the authentic source of instruction from God. When there were disagreements they didn't split away and start their own church as happens today. They went back to the leadership and thrashed it out until there was consensus. The result? The churches grew strong in faith and in numbers.

Do I want my parish to grow strong in faith and in numbers? Then respect the established line of authority. 

Jesus, you know how I want to do things my way and do them NOW! Help me be patient, respecting the teaching of leadership. Then my work will be blessed, giving increased faith and numbers.
Saint Philip Neri, please pray for me.