Straight Talk

There are people who know people.  They are the ones who have an inside track.

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. On that day you will ask in my name. I do not say to you that I will ask the Father on your behalf; for the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God. - John 16:25-27

I know people who have friends in high places.  They seem to have connections I would never expect to have, and so they can make a call and get access to special things most of us have no idea exist.

In today's Gospel reading Jesus tells his disciples he will no longer be one of those friends.

Instead, he gives them the good news that they can go directly to the Father when they need help.  They don't need to come to Jesus anymore.

All they need to do is mention his name. 

It is as though he is giving them a blank check, an open invitation to use his name to get whatever they want or need.

Wow.

Imagine how that could be abused.

Now the way I think, I would be cautious about using the direct approach too often.  I would expect to be called to account for what I asked for at some point.

It's like being given Mom's credit card to use and then having to explain when the bill comes in.

I guess that's how I see this life, and the freedoms we are given to make our own choices.  At some point, we will have to explain ourselves, and that could be embarrassing, to say the least.

So, my approach in using this gift of direct access is a simple one.  I ask for things for others, and not for me.

That's not always easy to do, since my interest may be in there somewhere as well.  If the person I pray for is someone I love, I benefit when they are made well.

So, I guess self-interest is not so bad, when it is a by product of interest in others.

In that case, I will be ready to account for how I used the name of Jesus to get what I want.  If it is all out of love, it should be good.

More to come...