DAILY DEVOTIONAL

Tuesday, August 28, 2018

Then Jesus said to His disciples …  “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.   If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.  This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. – John 15:5-8

With my own ears, and not for the first time sad to say, I heard a well-dressed, well-coifed preacher proclaim … “The Bible says that you can ask for whatever you want and the Lord will make sure you get it!”  And the crowd applauded!

No, my Loved Ones, the Lord will not give you whatever YOU ask for, but rather the Lord will teach you for what you need to be asking.  IF … you remain in the quality of life which I have lived and IF … my words continue to teach you … you will learn what is it that you need to ask for … and it is THAT which  the Lord will give you.

If you are asking the Lord for a palatial home with gold fixtures, then that speaks of the nature of your heart.  If you are asking for a fancy yacht to entertain you and your friends, then that speaks of the nature of your heart.  If you are asking for a life of luxurious comfort and wealth, then that speaks of the nature of your heart.

But if you are asking for guidance in how to love your neighbor, or asking for assistance in providing for the poor, or asking for help with establishing the peace … then the Lord will provide.

If you are living within the quality of life that Christ did live … if the words of Christ are actively at work within you in your spiritual maturation … then you learn to ask for that which you truly need.

Always in Christ’s Service,

Fr. Charitas de la Cruz