A Jesuit Catholic University
in Omaha, Nebraska, since 1878

[217] 1 John 5:14-21 Ps 149:1-2, 3-4, 5+6a+9b John 3:22-30

Weekly Guide for Daily Prayer The Daily Reflections

If we were to go out and interview people on the street and ask them what their top priority is or what is most important to them, the responses would be varied. A college student might explain that his top priority is his education. A single mother would say that providing for her children is the most important. A teenaged girl may go on for ten minutes about American Idol. Like I said: variety.

I had a really hard time with the first reading. Especially the line, “And if we know that he hears us in regard to whatever we ask, we know that what we have asked him for is ours.” I’m sure we’ve all heard the common comeback to “If God can hear your prayers why doesn’t he answer them?” ‘No’ is still an answer. Just because you say the magic words doesn’t mean your three wishes will come true. God is not a genie in a bottle, a magic wand, or a un-lose-able slop machine. Needless to say, I was confused. I have faith, I pray, I know God hears me. That does not immediately make me a perfect person, nor does it make everything I pray for a good prayer. I’m a sinner.

But, John the Baptist says something very interesting in the Gospel, “No one can receive anything, except what has been given from heaven.” Are our hearts open or are they closed? Can we surrender ourselves to be a pencil in the hand of God, set to let him continue writing the timeline of man through us? Or will we refuse him? Can we push aside the ‘American Idols’ of the world and focus on what is truly important?

The way I see it, we receive the tools to make good choices and to do God’s work. And if we ask for the “gifts of heaven” we ask to be united with God, and he wants nothing more.