Acts 18:23-28/ Ps 47:2-3. 8-9. 10/ Jn 16:23b-28

Today, the Church celebrates the memorial of St Bernadine of Siena, an Italian Franciscan priest, who lived from around 1380 - 1444. He was renowned as a great preacher who put a lot of effort into spreading devotion to the Holy Name of Jesus. It is reported that he inscribed the letters IHS (Iesus Hominum Salvator – Jesus, Savior of mankind) on banners and pasted on walls everywhere to help people reverence the holy name of Jesus, and also trust in its power. In today’s gospel, Jesus told his disciples that anything they asked for from the Father in his name, he will grant. Jesus insisted that what is received from the Father comes from the fact that those who ask in his name love him and believe in him. Sometimes, we have seen people who use the holy name of Jesus in vain. Do I sincerely love Jesus and his holy name? Do I believe in his power to save? 

Prayer: Lord God, grant that like St. Bernardine, I may come to love and revere the holy name of your beloved son, Jesus. That name given for the salvation of my soul. Amen.