Last Updated on July 4, 2023 by GMC
6th Week of Easter, Saturday
John 16:23-28
The Hour is Coming
“On that day” of rejoicing, Jesus says, “you will not question me about anything.” But on this day, “whatever you ask the Father in my name he will give you.”
At this hour, Jesus speaks to us in figures. But “the hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures but I will tell you clearly about the Father.”
One possible reading of these statements is to understand Jesus’ use of time words such as “day” and “hour” in the light of eternity. The time for asking, questioning, and dialogue is now while we are living in a state of earthly division. When we see the Father “face to face” on the day of eternity, words will no longer be necessary. We will be of one mind and heart with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, distinguished only by the unique identity of each person.
Direct Embrace of the Father
“On that day you will ask in my name, and I do not tell you that I will ask the Father for you.” In multiple translations, Jesus says he will not ask or pray to the Father on our behalf on that day. Why not?
The implication is that the Father will embrace us directly when we are fully incorporated into the Body of Christ. Christ came to unite what was divided to free us to be whole persons. Unlike the present state of division, in which persons experience one another as parts outside parts in material extension, in that hour of divine communion, each person in the Womb of the Father will be whole and entire, rejoicing in the unique and unrepeatable gift of each other.
Communion will be radically wholesome and self-giving, unlike the atomized, individualistic condition in which we now find ourselves. Matter itself will be transfigured, with spiritual properties mirroring Christ’s resurrected body. “All mine are thine, and thine are mine,” as in the life of the Trinity, save each unique identity. Divine Love is diversity in unity.
The Father receives us with open arms through the Son he sent, for “he who has seen me has seen the Father.” We who follow in the footsteps of Christ also return to the Father.
Thus ends this reflection in limping figures. Where concepts fail, may the love of the Trinity lift us on eagle’s wings.
‘each person in the Eternal Womb of the Father will be whole’ is display of Catholicism and typical patriarchal religion. If Jesus was patriarchal he would have said ‘ how many times I gather you like a rooster gather his chicks.’ Why not acknowledge that God is both FAther and Mother? The aramaic version of ‘the Lords prayer.’ starts with Abwoon d basmaya if translated to english directly will say ‘ O cosmic birther.’ and who gives birth? The Father or the Mother. LOGIC ( root word for LOGOS) tells me its the Mother or the Holy Spirit . In ancient hebrew the Holy Spirit is Ruach which is a femine aspect of God. So I dont agree with that statement eternal womb of the Father.