Friday of the Twenty-fifth Week in Ordinary Time
(Haggai
2:1-9; Luke 9:18-22)
The fact
that Jesus is praying before he asks the identity question signifies something. It tips off the reader that he is about to do
something consequential. In Luke’s gospel
Jesus prays before choosing his apostles, teaching the “Our Father,” and being
baptized and being transfigured.
More
importantly, the context of prayer heightens the significance of the question itself. Jesus is obviously discerning his mission in
the world. He is asking in prayer clarification
on what he must do to fulfill His Father’s will. He expresses the answer to his disciples when
he says that he must suffer greatly, be rejected, and be killed. Not long after he asks the question, the text
says that he is “resolutely determined to journey to Jerusalem.”
We too
should implore God in prayer to make His will clear to us. Of course, young people need to pray for help
in choosing a career or their life’s mate.
Older people as well should discern in prayer questions like retirement,
a church ministry, and how to proceed in challenging situations. The answers that come that might be discussed
with prudent people. We will like find
that resolutions made in this way will be both efficacious and satisfying.
