After spending some time there he departed and went from place to place through the region of Galatia and Phrygia, strengthening all the disciples. Now a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was an eloquent man, well versed in the scriptures. He had been instructed in the way of the Lord ; and being fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the things concerning Jesus, though he knew only the baptism of John. He began to speak boldly in the synagogue; but when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him and expounded to him the way of God more accurately. And when he wished to cross to Achaia, the brethren encouraged him, and wrote to the disciples to receive him. When he arrived, he greatly helped those who through grace had believed, for he powerfully confuted the Jews in public, showing by the scriptures that the Christ was Jesus.
Ps 46:2-3, 8-10 R./ God is king of all the earth.
Gospel: (Jn 16:23-28)
Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly, truly, I say to you, if you ask anything of the Father, he will give it to you in my name. Hitherto you have asked nothing in my name; ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full. “I have said this to you in figures; the hour is coming when I shall no longer speak to you in figures but tell you plainly of the Father. In that day you will ask in my name; and I do not say to you that I shall pray the Father for you; for the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have believed that I came from the Father. I came from the Father and have come into the world; again, I am leaving the world and going to the Father.”
Reflection:
Jesus declares: If you ask anything of the Father in my name, he will give it to you. To pray is to plead, ask and implore. To ask God something we require is to have that freedom and confidence in God our Father. St. Francis de Sales insists that prayer is the spring of blessings. Praying to God in the name of Jesus is, first of all, acknowledging his Lordship over our lives and then declaring our love for him. Therefore, let us always keep in mind the fact that our prayer will be always heard when we ask God in and through the most powerful name of Jesus. For, to address the Father in the name of Jesus, the only Son of God, is the best expression of our trust in the Son of God, since the Father and Son are one and the same in everything. Secondly, it is to be taken note of that, while asking the Father shows a sense of want, asking in Christ’s name implies acknowledging sincerely our unworthiness to receive any favours from God. Therefore, the Spirit purifies our intensions and the Son intercedes for us and the Father grants them in his mercy.