May 16, 2026 // Saturday of the Sixth Week of Easter

Read the Word // Open your Bible to today’s Gospel: John 16:23b-28

Reflect on the Word //

Recently, our friends experienced a deep and sudden loss in their family. Their younger sister, beloved aunt, baby daughter—in other words, someone whom they were in no way prepared to lose—was snatched from life too soon. As I grieve with and pray for them, I’m brought back in memory to the sudden loss of my husband just over five years ago, and how excruciating it has been to guide my children through their grief. I want to believe that I have something to offer, some wisdom to share, but I still find myself grappling with Jesus’ words in today’s Gospel:

“Whatever you ask the Father in my name he will give you” (John 16:23b). My little daughter once asked me how that could be true, since the only thing she wanted was her daddy back.

I was speechless, praying silently that the Holy Spirit would offer her solace where I couldn’t. But little by little I have come to see that Jesus wasn’t giving us a magic word, a formula for getting whatever we want whenever we want it. He was teaching us to pray, as he did in the Sermon on the Mount, “your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven” (Matthew 6:10). When we ask in Jesus’ name, we are not asking for our will to be done, but for our will to be conformed to the Father’s. Recall Jesus’ words in Gethsemane: “not as I will, but as you will” (Matthew 26:39).

Jesus promises, “ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be complete” (John 16:24b). What would that look like? Total gratitude for the present moment. This day’s opportunity to share Christ’s life and love with everyone we meet. Honest and humble acknowledgement of our own littleness, because “when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Corinthians 12:10b).

Relate to the Lord // Be honest with the Lord about what you desire. Holding it up to the Father, pray with Jesus, “Not as I will, but as you will” (Matthew 26:39).