Questions

Scripture: Lectionary # 294: Acts 18:1-8. Psalm 98: 1.2-3.3-4. John 16:
16-20:

"Your grief will be turned to joy." These are encouraging words from Jesus
to the the apostles on the night before he died. The form part of the long
discourse and prayers of Jesus that we will soon hear or read. We also are
in expectation of what he promises--the coming of the Holy Spirit as
Advocate, Counselor, and Comforter. Despite all of the promises and
encouragements they have heard from Jesus, the apostles continue to ask
questions and he patiently listens to them. Their hearts are still
troubled about his leaving them even though he promises to be seen by them
in a "little while." We are even aware of which apostles are asking Jesus
these questions-- the inquisitive and impassioned Thomas, the lesser known
Jude not Iscariot, and Philip who has asked questions from the beginning
and was among the first invited according to John. We, too, in our
solitude of prayer ask Jesus our own why's, how's, and when questions. How
can this be? Why did this happen to us, to me? When, Lord, will you show
yourself to me? Are you really alive today? Is your resurrection able to
be proved? etc. etc.

Even when we turn to the Psalms we find the psalmists often ask questions.
How long, O Lord, how long? "Quamdiu?"
Undoubtedly, because God has made promises to them and to us, we ask when
will they be fulfilled in a visible and factual way?

If we turn to Mark's Gospel we find that questions are plentiful and it is
Jesus who asks them. This more "historical" Gospel is filled with Jesus'
questions after the multiplication of the loaves. His questions help the
disciples to learn how slow they are to believe and to learn from Jesus.
Questions are part of the learning process of a child and we all are
children when it comes to the dimensions of faith, hope, and love. Why the
doubts? Why so little faith?

Our time for questions come in the liturgy during the intercessions when we
ask the Lord for favors for the issues we are concerned with and for the
people who have asked for our prayers. We requests favors of the Lord.

Just as Jesus sees his disciples questioning one another about his leaving
so he sees and listens to our questions which are really part of our faith
prayers. Jesus says, "You are asking one another about my saying 'within
a short time you will lose sight of me, but soon after that you will see
me." Our questioning prayers will be answered in our listening to Jesus
tell us, "Let not your heats be troubled or afraid...your grief will be
turned into joy." Amen. Alleluiah.