Wednesday 5th week of Easter
"Jn 15:1-8"
I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser...If a man does not abide in me, he is cast forth as a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you will, and it shall be done for you.
If you remain in Him and His words abide in you then you can "ask whatever you will, and it shall be done for you." This sounds like a great promise, doesn't it? "Whatever" shall be "done for you." And because we have a vested interest in this promise, we should remain in Him. To abide in Him is to be always united, as a branch to the trunk. We also need to make sure that His words abide in us; the Word of the Gospel that we meditate on every day. Ask Him now to help you keep His Word in you.
But the promise "it shall be done for you" obviously doesn't mean that God is like a shop assistant who has to give us 'anything' we fancy; for you know that we can ask for things that would do us no good. It can also happen that God may delay granting your wish. St Augustine explains that He sometimes delays answering our prayers to increase our 'desire' for what we pray for and so that we really value what he has given us when it finally comes. Therefore we need to insist when we ask and be appreciative when we receive.
And then, of course, some things are more important to pray for than others. Joyce Kilmer, a soldier in WWII, wrote from the battle fields to a priest asking for prayers. That is nothing new. The amazing thing is what he asked for. He didn't ask that his life might be spared, that he might soon get back safely to his loved ones or that his family would be fine... no. He said in his letter, "Pray for me, Father, that I may love God more and that I may be unceasingly conscious of Him. That is the greatest wish I have." This is one of the best things to ask for; you can do it now.
We can pray today for that same love for God: Holy Mary, My Mother, intercede for me so that "I may love God more and that I may be unceasingly conscious of Him". May that always be my "greatest wish."
