Wednesday of the Eighth Week in Ordinary Time
Isn’t it wonderful to recognize progress in the spiritual life, both in yourself and in others? “Every day is a new day to begin again,” my husband always says. Every day brings a new opportunity for conversion; another invitation to become a little bit more holy, slightly more like Jesus, perfected in love even just a bit. As I prayed today’s Gospel, I suddenly recognized some of the conversion that took place in the Apostle John. Perhaps the growth that marked the life of this great saint might inspire us to lean into our own conversion this day.
In today’s Gospel from Mark, we find Jesus revealing, to his twelve Apostles, his upcoming Passion in horrifying detail. Imagine hearing that your beloved friend, brother, and rabbi, the one that you have an inkling might be the Messiah, is going to suffer unimaginably and be put to death. How would you receive that news? How would it strike your heart? Here is one response: “Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Jesus and said to him, ‘Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.’ He replied, ‘What do you wish me to do for you?’ They answered him, ‘Grant that in your glory we may sit one at your right and the other at your left.’ Jesus said to them, ‘You do not know what you are asking’ . . .” John the son of Zebedee is none other than John the Gospel writer. At this point in his life, John’s perspective was myopic and self-centered. John and his brother sought glory and a place of prominence. They wanted to jockey for position while they could.
By the time John penned his Gospel, he had certainly experienced tremendous conversion. Three times in the Gospel of John, we see Jesus using the phrase, “whatever you ask in my name.” [Jesus said,] “‘And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.’” (John 14:13-14). “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you” (John 15:16). “In that day you will no longer ask me anything. Very truly I tell you, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name” (John 16:23). Note this subtle evidence of John’s conversion. In his interaction with Jesus prior to our Lord’s Passion, John and his brother said, “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.” Note the use of “whatever we ask of you!” As he recorded Jesus’ Farewell Discourse, John used the very same phrase but transformed it! Due to his conversion, his growth in holiness and wisdom, John came to understand that God is not a genie in a bottle, a divine being whom we summon to do our will. No, God is a loving Father who sent his Son to show us how to live holy, loving, selfless lives. Our life in Christ aims at doing the Father’s will, not our own.
What does it mean to you when Jesus says to you, “whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you?” Take a moment and ponder that invitation. Jesus does not say, “whatever you ask my Father will give you.” The key is asking in Jesus’ name. When we approach the Father through Jesus, invoking his divine name, we set aside our selfishness and self-centeredness. We come humbly and contritely seeking only to do the will of the Father. Because Jesus came only to do the Father’s will, when we follow him into the throne room of God in prayer and pray in his name, our focus can only be the same as Jesus’. I’m picturing a racehorse wearing blinders – the horse can only see what’s in front of him. Perhaps praying in Jesus’ name is kinda like that – all we can see is the Father, all we can seek is the Father’s will. All of our selfish concerns and preoccupations are obscured outside the blinders.
So today, let us seek the conversion that moves us away from self-centered prayer toward seeking the Father’s will more sincerely and fervently. Certainly, it is important to pray for ourselves and for our needs, but growth in holiness comes when we can submit and surrender our will to the Father. Rather than imploring God to “grant our wishes” like that “divine genie,” we move more fully into the space of seeking only to know, do, and submit to God’s will. And the Father is faithful to receive those prayers and to give us what we ask according to His will! May it be so in each of us today. Amen!
—Elizabeth Wells