January 29, 2002

Here is a remarkable example of what can happen when quotations, even from the Gospel, even from Christ's own words, are pulled out of the context in which they stand. People who read this verse almost always ask again in disbelief: “How can that be? If I ask, believing that I will receive it, say, for the death of my enemy, will that happen too?”

Here is a remarkable example of what can happen when quotations, even from the Gospel, even from Christ's own words, are pulled out of the context in which they stand. People who read this verse almost always ask again in disbelief: “How can that be? If I ask, believing that I will receive it, say, for the death of my enemy, will that happen too?” But Christ is not speaking here about what one may ask for and what one may not; He is speaking about how to ask. He speaks about the power of faith in prayer, not about what prayer should be directed toward. That is also addressed, but in another place (see Matt. 7:11; Luke 11:13). We read as though we want not to understand Christ, but to catch Him in His words. And He is trying to teach us trust, the ability to live not by what has already happened, but by what is happening right now, at this very moment of our communion with God.