Ask the Father in my name


 In today's first reading taken from the Acts of the Apostles(18:23-28), we see Paul strengthening Christian communities through his pastoral visits.  Yes, as disciples of the Lord, we get tired and weary and we need our strength renewed. Paul had to strengthen Apollos in the Christian teachings properly. 



When Priscilla and Aquilla took him aside to offer advice he was grateful and saw it as a learning experience.  When the brothers opened a pathway for him to continue to spread the good news of Jesus the Christ, he was excited to expand his travels and was highly successful in bringing more followers into the fold.



Here faith is renewed and given to others. Life can be difficult but we need our brothers and sisters in the Lord to help renew our faith experience while we also strengthen others. 


Where does this find model? We see in today's gospel, Jesus telling the disciples what to do when they have faith challenges. “Whatever you ask the Father in my name, he will do it for you”(John 16:23-28) Sometimes we do this in prayer, other times we are called to listen to the people that God places in our lives.




They support, challenge, teach and love us into the person we are called to be.  We don’t often want to ask direction, to be challenged, or to ask advice of others, because in our humanness we may think we know it all.  Sometimes the degrees we proudly earn become the beacon for our success and give us a false sense of security, sending a message to others that we have all the answers.



The early Christians enjoyed tremendous success in building up the early Christian communities because they were open to listening to one another and keeping an open mind and a loving heart before them always.  We would do well if we can do the same!  Amen



Osho

Comments

  1. TonyUkaegbuMay 28, 2022 at 2:51 PM

    Amen 🙏
    Good afternoon padre.
    Happy weekend to you.
    Thank you for the words

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Image
  ST. BARTHOLOMEW, APOSTLES, FEAST   Apocalypse 21:9-14 Psalm 144(145):10-13a,17-18 John 1:45-51 COME TO JESUS  Today's readings emphasize the significance of heaven. We must stay focused on the ultimate prize, just as Bartholomew did when he sought spiritual enlightenment under the fig tree. When Philip introduced him to the Messiah from Nazareth, Bartholomew initially questioned whether anything good could come from Nazareth. However, after encountering Christ, he recognized Him as the Son of God. Bartholomew made the wisest decision of his life by coming to Jesus. As it says in Psalms 145, "The Lord is near to all who call upon Him." Our prayer life can be as simple as coming to Jesus and seeking Him for rest, as stated in Matthew 11:28. Let us also have a deep desire to draw closer to Jesus and focus on the things above where Christ is. Amen. N. B. Pray for me as I celebrate my birthday today. Thank you and God bless. 
Read more
Image
  Saints Charles Lwanga and his Companions, Martyrs   2 Peter 1:2-7 Psalm 90(91):1-2,14-16 Mark 12:1-12 LAY DOWN YOUR LIVES FOR CHRIST  Today's gospel features Jesus addressing the scribes, chief priests, and elders. They witness the behavior of the tenant farmers in a parable, which mirrors their violence, selfishness, and desire for possession. Despite being confronted with the truth, they are too afraid to change and miss the opportunity for a conversion of heart. Instead, they react defensively and deceive themselves, eventually acting out the negative roles depicted in the parable.  The Church commemorates the Martyrs of Uganda today, particularly St. Charles Lwanga and their companions, who bore witness to Christ by sacrificing their lives. This serves as a reminder for us to be faithful stewards of God's creation and caretakers of His people, willing to serve with love and faith, even to the point of laying down our lives.
Read more
Image
  Monday of week 13 in Ordinary Time   Amos 2:6-10,​13-16 Psalm 49(50):16-23 Matthew 8:18-22 THE COST OF TRUE DISCIPLESHIP  Dearly beloved in Christ, as we embark on a new month and continue to journey through life, It is important to keep in mind the message in today's Gospel. The brief exchanges between Jesus and the two potential disciples remind us of the challenges of true discipleship. The stories of the teacher of the law and the man wanting to bury his father emphasize the commitment and sacrifices required to follow Jesus. We see that true discipleship involves a wholehearted dedication to living a life modeled after Jesus. When we think about the earlier experiences of other followers like Peter and Andrew, we are reminded that becoming a disciple may require us to let go of our old ways and follow Jesus without hesitation. It is not always easy, and Jesus does not ask us to calculate the costs or tie up all our loose ends. Instead, He simply invites us to "Foll...
Read more