In St. John’s gospel we read these words of Jesus: “Whatever you ask the Father in my name he will give you.” Of course we know that we often don’t get what we ask for in prayer. What gives? The key to this saying are the words “in my name.” That does NOT mean we treat the name of Jesus like some kind of magic word — a version of “open sesame.” Rather, asking in the name of Jesus means asking as Jesus asks. And we know how Jesus asks from his own prayer in the garden of Gethsemane: “Father, if it is possible let this cup pass me by, yet let it be as you would have it, not as I.”
MAY272017
By Church Staff
