A reading from the holy Gospel according to John
Jesus said to the disciples: “Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on my own. The Father who dwells in me is doing his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else, believe because of the works themselves.”
Today’s Gospel continues the Last Supper discourses of Jesus. He shares with the disciples his oneness with the Father and his desire that they recognize that he does the will of his Father. “The words that I speak to you,” Jesus says, “I do not speak on my own. The Father who dwells in me is doing his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else, believe because of the works themselves.” Teaching them this, Jesus also tells them that whatever they ask in his name, he will do “so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.”
God, as I hear these words of Jesus, skepticism and worldly wisdom challenge my belief that whatever I ask in your name you will do. How is this possible? I have to ground this in the truth to understand it. Just as Jesus does your will and models this to the disciples, so must I abandon my own will to yours and remain in you while recognizing my limitations. There is something of a mystery here. Do I abandon free will in doing this? No, instead I freely abandon my will to truth itself so that your will can be done.
Lord, help me remain in this truth today as I consider your love for me. From the responsorial Psalm: “If you remain in my word, you will truly be my disciples, and you will know the truth, says the Lord.”
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.