I am the way, the truth and the life
A Reflection by Fred Schaeffer, OFS
Jesus said to him, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you know me, then you will also know my Father. From now on you do know him and have seen him.” (Jn 14:6-7)
If you are interested in St. John the Evangelist, may I suggest you read Chapter 14 and 15. St. John was one of the Apostles, perhaps the one closest to Jesus (see Jn. 13:23).
"Breathe into me Holy Spirit, that all my thoughts may be holy. Move in me, Holy Spirit, that my work, too, may be holy. Attract my heart, Holy Spirit, that I may love only what is holy. Strengthen me, Holy Spirit, that I may defend all that is holy. Protect me, Holy Spirit, that I always may be holy." (Holy Spirit Prayer of Saint Augustine)
We can always count on Jesus Christ. I make this statement without reservations, because I know it to be true. People tell me, they pray and pray ... and nothing happens. Jesus does not heal on our command, but He does heal. He often uses other people to heal us. He uses doctors, spouses, priests (the confessional is a big place of healing), deacons, even strangers, but He will do something. He won't let us down!
"In his teaching, Jesus teaches his disciples to pray with a purified heart, with lively and persevering faith, with filial boldness. He calls them to vigilance and invites them to present their petitions to God in his name. Jesus Christ himself answers prayers addressed to him." (Catechism of the Catholic Church [CCC] 2621)
"Prayer is both a gift of grace and a determined response on our part. It always presupposes effort *. The great figures of prayer of the Old Covenant before Christ, as well as the Mother of God, the saints, and he Himself, all teach us this: prayer is a battle. Against whom? Against ourselves and against the wiles of the tempter who does all he can to turn man away from prayer, away from union with God. We pray as we live, because we live as we pray. If we do not want to act habitually according to the Spirit of Christ, neither can we pray habitually in His name. The "spiritual battle" of the Christian's new life is inseparable from the battle of prayer." (CCC 2725) * Emphasis mine.
God wants to heal us, He won't let us down ... but, unfortunately, we often let Him down. When we let Him down, we are not ready to receive the healing He provides. "The Lord Jesus Christ, physician of our souls and bodies, who forgave the sins of the paralytic and restored him to bodily health, has willed that his Church continue, in the power of the Holy Spirit, his work of healing and salvation, even among her own members. This is the purpose of the two sacraments of healing: the sacrament of Penance and the sacrament of Anointing of the Sick." (CCC 1421)
Trust in the Lord. Pray and wait, and while waiting, please sin no more.
May the Lord bless you and keep you.
Fred Schaeffer, OFS