“I have told you this in figures of speech. The hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures but I will tell you clearly about the Father. On that day you will ask in my name, and I do not tell you that I will ask the Father for you. For the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have come to believe that I came from God. I came from the Father and have come into the world. Now I am leaving the world and going back to the Father.”
(From John 16:23b-28 – Saturday’s Gospel reading)

I wonder . . . We end our prayers in Jesus name . . .”we  ask this in the name of Jesus”, or “through Christ our Lord, Amen.” We make the sign of the cross at the beginning and the end of our prayers: “In the name of  . . . .” Do we use this as a formula after so many years of repetition? (I recall that teachers can often get the class quiet enough to pray by announcing loudly, “In the name of the Father . . .” Indeed, that is a formula!)

I wonder. Maybe Jesus meant to ask the way that he asks – to ask for the things that are in his heart – to live and pray in such a way that our prayers echo the prayers of Jesus. Of course God will answer, for those desires live in the heart of God.

Ask.

Ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be complete.

I understood that in view of my decision to give myself unreservedly to God and my neighbor, it would be absolutely necessary for me to devote space and time to prayer.

So how is my Lenten practice going?

Knock and the door shall be opened

Thursday’s Gospel reading from Matthew 7 reads:

Jesus said to his disciples:
“Ask and it will be given to you;
seek and you will find;
knock and the door will be opened to you.
For everyone who asks, receives;
and the one who seeks, finds;
and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.

It is good to hear this in Lent.

Perhaps the door we hope will be opened is the ability
to be steadfast in our Lenten practice.
Perhaps the door we need
opened is that of our own heart . . .
that we might be less judgmental.
Or maybe we need a door opened of our understanding of the Scriptures.

And just as God was faithful to Queen Esther (from the today’s first reading from the Book of Esther), we know that God will be faithful to us. And we will say, as our Psalm’s antiphon:

Lord, on the day I called for help, you answered me.

A clan heart create for me, O God,
and a steadfast spirit renew within me. 

Create in me a clean heart, O God.

Teach me Your way, O Lord, that I may walk in your truth.

A Lenten reflection from today’s responsorial Psalm 86

Have mercy on me, O Lord,
for to you I call all the day.
Gladden the soul of your servant,
for to you, O Lord, I lift up my soul.

So submit yourselves to God. Resist the Devil, and he will flee from you.
Draw near to God, and God will draw near to you.
Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you of two minds.
Begin to lament, to mourn, to weep.
Let your laughter be turned into mourning and your joy into dejection.
Humble yourselves before the Lord and God will exalt you.

Woman praying in chapel in El Salvador

Rising very early before dawn, he left and went off to a deserted place, where he prayed.

If we are truly followers of Jesus, how can we not do the same?

The Golden Gate Bridge early on a deserted morning

Jesus said to them, “Some away by yourselves to a deserted place and rest for a while.”

Come and rest for a while.

This particular resting place can be found at Presentation Center in Los Gatos.

A desire to kneel down sometimes pulses through my body,
or rather it is as if my body has been meant and made for the act of kneeling.
Sometimes, in moments of deep gratitude,
kneeling down becomes an overwhelming urge,
head deeply bowed, hands before my face.

~Etty Hillesum An Interrupted Life~

Who doesn’t know this feeling?

Blessed are the people who know the joyful shout;
in the light of your countenance, O Lord, they walk.
At your name they rejoice all the day
and through your justice they are exalted.

Forever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.

All creation sings the Goodness of God.

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