Please help me crack ur brain over this....
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May 24, 2009 - 09:29
John 16:24
Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.
Does it mean that the disciples didnt pray enuf?
June 1, 2009 - 17:40
#2
The Eucharist ...
Hi Hilda,
I personally not sure also, but let me share my thoughts. I think all this while the disciples learnt to pray to God as they knew it from their Jewish religions. But as Jesus is passing away to the Father, Jesus told them now that they should pray in His Name.
In the biblical language, a name implies the person. So when Jesus said ask in my name, He seems to say "ask In Me", or "Ask in My Person, My very being".
I felt it is truly fulfilled as we celebrate the Eucharist. At the end of the Eucharistic prayer we offer up our praise and offering to the Father and the priest will say "Through Him, with Him, and Him".
Our Catholic faith shows the beauty in the Liturgy! For us Catholic we don't pray on our own, but we pray in the person of Jesus. That saying that it is Jesus who Prays to the Father.
our imperfect prayers have now been taken up by Jesus own prayer. Our imperfect sacrifices have been taken up by Jesus perfect sacrifice. Now we can have the confidence with the Father, Our prayer is Jesus own prayer, our sacrifice is Jesus sacrifice. What the Father sees, is the beautiful son Jesus who prays and offer Him sacrifices. The voice that the Father hear is Jesus own voice, His beloved son.
And that's why Jesus said "Ask and you will receive", and how can we not be joyful knowing this truth and reality of our faith!
ok because I wasn't really paying attention during the study of the Gospel of John sessions and don't own a Bible commentary, I am guessing for this one =P
I am guessing what Jesus was saying "hey guys, here's a new way to pray, ask something in my name (something you need spiritual or otherwise, esp for building the kingdom of God), you would receive. And when you receive what you need, God will provide it abundantly and your joy will be overflowing. (insert parable about sparrows and flowers of the field, craving name at the palm of His hands etc)."
That is why I feel that everyone even our Protestant brothers ends the prayer in Jesus' name.
This is the very perfection of a man, to find out his own imperfections. - St. Augustine.