John 16:23b-30

Read : 

John 16:23b-30 (NRSV)

23 On that day you will ask nothing of me. Very truly, I tell you, if you ask anything of the Father in my name, he will give it to you. 24Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be complete. 25'I have said these things to you in figures of speech. The hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures, but will tell you plainly of the Father. 26On that day you will ask in my name. I do not say to you that I will ask the Father on your behalf; 27for the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God.

28 I came from the Father and have come into the world; again, I am leaving the world and am going to the Father.' 29His disciples said, 'Yes, now you are speaking plainly, not in any figure of speech! 30Now we know that you know all things, and do not need to have anyone question you; by this we believe that you came from God.'

Think: 

Very truly- this makes me think you are lying. I once was told by a psychology professor in undergraduate that when someone says honestly and really together it might indicate that they are lying.  This is what it sounds like to my 21st century ear when I hear this passage in my minds-voice.  I don't think you are actually lying to me, Christ, but wouldn't it be better to just say honestly?  I guess that there is something lost in translation here.  I am not a Greek scholar but I am sure if I looked into it some more that this would be easier to understand, or maybe not.  I struggle a lot with language and analogy in John's gospel.  Very truly, I tell you, if you ask anything of the Father in my name, he will give it to you.  

That's not true. I've asked for things in earnest, I've begged for things that God has not given me in Jesus' name. I believe that he is the Son of God, Son of Man, incarnate Christ and my prayers have not been answered.  I don't think that you mean what you said here, or maybe I am just too stupid to understand.  Maybe I am just like the disciples, and I need to be told plainly.  But this passage isn't very plain, couldn't you please help make it plainer? 

Pray: 

Dear Jesus, my savior, our savior, help us to see plainly when things are shrouded in uncertainty.  Help me to understand that my prayers do not go unheeded or unanswered just because the results aren't those that I anticipate or expect.  Help me to ask for your will to be done, not my will to be done in the world.  Even when I am blinded by grief and loss, disappointment and discouragement, when I am distracted by joy and laughter, hope and elation let me remember that you are Christ, and that Your will is God's will and that the Spirit will celebrate and console as necessary.  Through the words and actions of those who are baptized into your body all will be made plain, all will be shown to be peaceful and glorious.  Amen

Contemplate: 

I will now sit in contemplative prayer for 5 minutes (I am out of practice) I hope to work up to more time in the near future.