8661 North 76th Place, Milwaukee, WI 53223 | A Northwest Milwaukee Catholic Parish

Browsing Information and Sermons

The "Jesus Question"

It’s got to be possibly the best question posed in the Bible. Oh wait, I’m wrong once again. It is the absolute best question recorded in the Bible. And, it’s asked by Jesus Christ.

“What do you wish me to do for you?” Unfortunately, the question seems to get lost while being distracted by hearing the jealousy of those two apostles. “I want to sit on His right!” “You always want to sit on His right side?” Sounds like the Smothers Brothers; except this time it’s James and John. Dumb and Dumber.

However, it’s the question asked our whole lifetimes. “What do you wish me to do for you?”  So very often, we only think it’s what Jesus wants us to do for him. We ask the reverse question so that we can get that prize, that reward, that comeuppance for living this difficult journey of life. Prize, reward, comeuppance. Three terribly wrong words to summarize our lives. It seems to be only about life after instead of a well lived life here.

(yelling upward) ‘I’d like a Lamborghini…red…winter-ready!’ I attended "The Holy Women Prayer Shawl Ministry" (my new name for them) gathering. They all have busily maneuvering hands moving a thin colorful thread forward and back carrying a tool never allowed on an airplane. Well, we got talking about death as only older adults tend to do. One said, “I want to go quickly.” Another offered, “I want two weeks' notice.”  I wouldn’t mind either if that were my response to the Jesus question.

“What do you wish me to do for you?”  The most unanswerable question of our lives. Would it be about ourselves or someone else? The Holy Spirit gives us the answers for both you and then for the them’s in your lives.

Jesus? An inner Divine strength and a spiritual resolve that originates beyond me but slowly lives and builds up within me to handle any situation. “Fortitude.” 

Jesus? A gentle breathing that steadies random emotions allowing time to peacefully enter my mind and soul. Those emotions are then consumed like food. Digested and offered for our spiritual reflections. “Patience.”

Jesus? All our conversations offer golden tidbits from others to help us along. Some comments may be canned sentiments that quickly evaporate when considered. Then there are those that pierce the soul and call us to a deeper introspection than we’ve known before. Those are the comments for us to ponder deeply. “Counsel.”

I don't need an overpriced car. I need fortitude, patience and counsel.

The Son of God asks each of us, “What do you wish me to do for you?” I’ve mentioned three of the Holy Spirit’s seven. They are all called gifts for a reason. Freely given to us through our faith. They are profoundly the only genuine inquires toward that Jesus question.

Repeat the Jesus question every morning and before your eyes close.

“What do you wish me to do for you?”  Jesus asks, “What do you wish me to do for you?”