During Last Supper, upon reminding the disciples of the imminence of his threefold glorification after washing their feet and giving the new commandment of love (John 13:31-35), Jesus began giving his farewell discourse (John 14:1-16:33). In today’s Gospel Reading (John 16:23b-28), we reflect on how Jesus brought the discourse to its conclusion. Sensing the disciples’ anxiety for the prospect of his departure through the glorification (his death, resurrection, and ascension), Jesus began the discourse by assuring them of peace in their hearts (John 14:1, 27). Then, he described his ascension and his intention of commissioning the disciples to be sent to extend his work with another Parakletos (Advocate), the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of truth, so that their mission works would be abundantly fruitful (John 14:11-16:15), while he would work on a place for the disciples in the house of the Father in heaven (John 14:2-4). Then, Jesus addressed his death and resurrection, reiterating what he had already foretold (i.e. Matthew 16:21; 17:22-23) (John 16:16-22). In this, Jesus used the metaphor of how labor pain gives its way to joy of childbirth, to help the disciples see his glorification begins with his death, which is followed by the joy of his resurrection, before his ascension (John 16:21). Then, Jesus spoke about the day when they rejoice over his resurrection, saying “on that day”(John 16:23-26) and concludes the discourse (John 16:27-33).
Jesus said that on the day of their recognition of
his resurrection, none of them would dare to ask about him (John 16:23a) and,
indeed, they sure did not, though it took the disciples a while to fully
recognize Jesus’ resurrection (John 21:12). Then, Jesus indicated that they
would have more direct access to the Father upon their full realization of his
resurrection, as he would remain as their intercessor, as already promised (John
14:13) (John 16:23b). And he reminded the disciples that they had not seen him
as their intercessor to the Father yet, for they had not asked the Father anything
in his name (John 16:24). They always asked Jesus directly. To them, the Father
was still unfathomably far. But, as his glorification was to begin, Jesus
wanted to let the disciples know of their access to the Father.
So, Jesus assured the disciples that the Father
would provide them with whatever they ask in his name so that their joy would
be complete (John 16:23-25). Of course,
this is on the condition that they remain in Jesus’ love by keeping his
commandments, just as he remains in the Father’s love for keeping His
commandments (John 15:10-11).
Upon his death and resurrection, the pathway to the
Father becomes more open for the disciples, as symbolized with the curtain of holy
of holies being torn open upon his death (i.e. Matthew 27:51; cf. Luke 23:45). At
the same time, the gate of the Divine Mercy opened as the blood and water
gushed out of his body on the Cross (John 19:34; Diary of St. Faustina #299,
848), as the blood of Korban Pesach
(Passover sacrifice lamb) protects from God’s wrath (Exodus 12:4-7, 12-14).
In a way, Jesus implied that the disciples would be
able to directly ask the Father, rather than he is asking Him on their behalf,
upon the day of their full recognition of his resurrection (John 16:26). It is
rather that the Father Himself now loves them for they have loved Jesus and
believed that he came from Him (John 16:27). So, Jesus now can return to the
Father, leaving more than his peace with his disciples (John 14:27) but the
assurance of their direct access to the Father through their prayers, as he
said these words of farewell:
I
came from the Father and have come into the world. Now I am leaving the world
and going back to the Father (John 16:28).
Jesus implicated his hope that the disciples would
rejoice over their direct access to the Father through prayers, as they embrace
his resurrection to the heart and even after his ascension, so that they would
be ready for the commission on the day of his ascension and ready to be sent
out for their apostolic mission on the day of Pentecost.
As also disciples of Jesus today, we are adopted
beloved children of God through him (Ephesians 1:3-6; cf. John 1:12; 1 John
3:1-2 ), and friends of Jesus (John 15:15), we can ask the Father, as our “Abba”, in Jesus’ name, in light of what
Jesus assured of the disciples: the direct prayer pipe line to the Father (John
16:23-26).
In today’s First Reading (Acts 18:23-28), we begin to see how Paul’s third mission journey (Acts 18:23 to 21:17) will unfold.
As he began his third mission journey, his follow-up
visit to the church that he established in Galatia on his first and second journeys.
During that time, Aquila and Pricilla
met Apollos of Alexandria, as he came to Ephesus. Though he was an eloquent
evangelizer, Aquila and Pricilla realized that Apollos’s understanding of the
Gospel of Jesus was rather incomplete, as he was more like a disciple of John
the Baptist. So, they took him to help him acquire full understanding of the Gospel.
Afterward, Apollos became a great asset in advancing with evangelization.
Eventually, Apollos came in partnership with Paul,
as Peter was so, in making disciples in the Greco-Roman world (1 Corinthians
1:12-13) and provided after-care mission works where Paul started working, as
their team work was fortified by God (1 Corinthians 3:6).
As the Father has become more accessible, upon Jesus’
glorification, completed with his ascension, the apostolic mission continues on
with more fruitfulness. And, this is also about team work. Apollos did not need
to work alone. He was brought, by God’s grace, through Aquila and Pricilla, on
board.
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