In the words of today's gospel Jesus conveys a kind of sadness as he is drawing closer to the serious days that are before him. Perhaps there is also the pain of separation that hangs in the future. No doubt there must have been moments when human emotions captured his heart. He loved being with his disciples.

But he turns from sadness to words of comfort, words of support. Again he reminds his disciples that joy, genuine joy, will be theirs. "Whatever you ask the Father in my name he will give you." What an extraordinary promise! Yet it seems to many to be a challenging promise. Why? Are we not overwhelmed at times by the realities of our world that add confusion to our lives ... the wants and desires that diminish our relationship with the Lord. Do we fully comprehend what Jesus is teaching us?

Praying for the gift of faith, a strong faith, is not easy. Faith demands much from modern humanity. Are we not terribly challenged by the many different types of crises that weigh heavily upon us at this time in our lives: the seemingly unending war, the economic crises that impact most Americans' wallet or purses. Is there not fear in the hearts of men and women who are struggling to raise families? As a priest, I can only imagine what it would mean to be confronting the realities that face a husband or wife trying to make ends meet for their families today. It must be so easy especially for those who had perhaps teased themselves into believing that there was everything to be had for themselves and their families. It was a land of plenty that pulled so many away from their God.

Reflecting upon the word "elitism" that has become so much a part of the current political circus we are watching, perhaps it is a reality many do not wish to acknowledge publicly but crises so often pull those suffering not necessarily to their guns but certainly to their religion, to more regular Church attendance, to more prayer.

There are more people praying today for relief from the impact of the various economic burdens that are theirs, burdens that were not so difficult and frightening just a few years ago. The words of Jesus mentioned above have more significance today.

Perhaps we might consider that many are now confronting the pains of delivery ... delivering us to a new awareness of a challenging life that we must endure for a time.