Friday of the Sixth Week of Easter
(Acts 18:8-18; John 16:20-23)
The gospel today touches a sensitive nerve. It promises that God will accede to every
request made in Jesus’ name. Yet from
experience it seems that at least some of prayers go unanswered. How should
this seeming contradiction be deciphered?
The Catechism of the Catholic Church provides some
answers. First, it says that we must
pray to God as “our Father” who knows best what is good for us. Then it offers the critique of the Letter of
James that we often ask God for things with a divided heart. That is, we ask for things which will be used
for evil purposes. Finally, the Catechism
cites St. Augustine saying that the granting of our request may be delayed so
that we may grow in trust as we continue to pray.
The answers that the Church provides are based on faith in a
Creator who loves us. His existence is
not self-evident, at least to most people.
Yet we know, also from experience, that what St. Paul writes is true: “…all
things work for good for those who love God….”
