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| Saint Justin Martyr |
(Audio)
Until now you have not asked anything in my name;
ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be complete.
Timid Christians dare not ask. We are like king Ahaz, told to ask for a sign and yet afraid to do it.
But Ahaz said, "I will not ask, and I will not put the LORD to the test." And heg said, "Hear then, O house of David! Is it too little for you to weary men, that you weary my God also?" (see Isaiah 7:12-13).
What blessings are being squandered because some false pretense of humility keeps us from asking the Father for what we desire?
Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours (see Mark 11:24).
So much disappointment and doubt underlies our reluctance to ask. We are afraid that we will not be answered. Each time God does not seem to respond it becomes harder to ask again. The secret is to pray in the name of Jesus. To do so means we stand so united to him before the Father that the Father's love for Jesus overflows unto us and to our prayers. This will change the content of our desires and our prayers such that they will be answered literally as they are asked.
Even before our desires are fully in line with those of God we should bring all our prayers and petitions before the Father with great faith, knowing that he sees the secret impulses that underlie our requests, hidden even from ourselves, and always grants to us what is truly for our good.
If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him! (see Matthew 7:11)
We need to be willing to entrust our requests to God, no matter what they are, if we want to have peace.
do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus (see Philippians 4:6-7).
God tells us to ask seek, and knock and to keep doing so (see Matthew 7:7). He tells us to be like the woman who won't put up with the unjust judge but bothers him until he responds (see Luke 18:1-8). He tells us asking for the loaves we need at midnight (see Luke 11:5-8). Examples can be multiplied. But the point is what Paul tells the Thessalonians.
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you (See First Thessalonians 5:16-18, emphasis mine).
Prayer is a training ground for us and for our desires. Through it the Father helps us to live more fully united to the Name of Jesus, receiving the Father's love ourselves, and sharing it with the world. The problem is not that we desire too much but too little. May God grant us the grace to bring our every desire to him until we are so changed that our every desire if for him.
One thing we can pray is to be bold like Apollos, to accurately teach about Jesus, but to be ready in humility to learn to be still more accurate, and then to keep preaching, encouraged by our brothers. This is analogous to what we do in prayer. We don't stop when we hit a setback. We adapt, learn, and keep moving. Surely Saint Justin, commemorated today, must have been living this way in order to be able to so freely offer his life in testimony to Jesus.
God reigns over the nations,
God sits upon his holy throne.
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