Saturday, May 21, 2016

Monday of the 7th Week of Easter, Cycle C - May 9, 2016

Monday of the 7th Week of Easter
May 9, 2016         8:30am


Readings:   Acts 19.1-8
                  John 16.29-33

The disciples today get very self-confident.
They think they get what Jesus is talking about and have it all very clear.
They say that no more questions are necessary.
We believe and that’s it!
It’s all settled.

And Jesus says: “Whoa!  Slow down a bit!”
Jesus knows that very soon they will abandon him.
He wisely knows that faith is not easy.
And it is never something over and done with, never something with which we are all set.

There will be challenges to faith, maybe all throughout our lives.
There might be the challenge of prosperity and comfort – will we then start feeling entitled to what we have or so absorbed with ourselves that we forget our need for God?
Or on the other hand, there might be lots of financial stress – will we then think God has forgotten us?
We might have good health – will we take it for granted and not bother to be thankful to God?
Or we might be told we have a significant sickness – will we then be tempted to question why God let this happen to us?

Jesus slows down the over-confidence of the apostles and of us.
We need to pray for faith.
It really is the most basic need of all.
So we need to pray for it – for the faith that means trusting in God no matter what, for the faith that means praying to God when we are in darkness to see us through to the light, for the faith that will help us feel God’s closeness when we need it most.
So when we pray for our needs, let’s pray for the gift of a strong and enduring and growing faith.

That’s what Jesus is prodding the apostles to do today.