Jesus said to Thomas,  “I am the way and the truth and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me….”  Philip said to him, “Master, show us the Father, and that will be enough for us.”  Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you for so long a time and you still do not know me, Philip?  Whoever has seen me has seen the Father.”

To me, John’s Gospel, Chapter 14, is one of the most beautiful scenes of the New Testament.  Here Jesus is trying to explain once again who He is and what His relationship is with the Father.  The apostles (we) still do not quite understand.  Oh, the patience of Jesus… to once again, try to explain.  “Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever believes in me will do the works that I do, and will do greater ones than these, because I am going to the Father.  And whatever you ask in my name, I will do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.  If you ask anything of me in my name, I will do it.”

How hard it is for the apostles (and for us) to believe Jesus’ words.  How confusing the words still remain.  Our experience of living with other humans has taught us that not often can one depend on someone’s word… that he/she will do something… at only our request… unless it serves the self-interest of the other. 

And besides that, how many times have you or I asked for something in Jesus’ name and our request appeared not to have been heard? 

John is trying to tell us once again that having faith and deep trust in God can work miracles – if all is done in Jesus’ name.  The older we get the wiser we become in knowing that sometimes the “things” that we ask for are really not that good for us… or the Father has another plan in mind.

I think we learn to grow in grace and intimacy with God by asking for the really important things in life… those that lead to eternal life for all involved.  By now we have learned to ask in Jesus’ name for the gifts and graces that will lead us and our loved ones to a more full life lived with God… even here on earth.

So our prayer is:  “Father, in Jesus’ name, today we ask for the gifts and graces we need to be immersed in a deeper faith, hope, and love for God and each other.  We ask only this… and that is enough.”