Magical Thinking

Dear Sutton and Savannah, 

I don’t know what John 14:14 means, but I think I know what it doesn’t mean. It doesn’t mean that putting the tag line, “in Jesus’s name,” on any request will make it so. That’s just magical thinking.

-Dad

Inside Out Lectionary Letters

Year A - 6th Sunday of Easter (Texts, Art, Hymns)

Readings for Sunday, May 10, 2026

Acts 17:22-31 / Psalm 66:8-20 / 1 Peter 3:13-22 / John 14:15-21

Summary of John 14:15-21

This passage, like last week’s gospel reading, is part of a larger discourse of Jesus, given to the disciples in the hours leading up to his betrayal and death. This portion of scripture speaks about that part of God that is described as the Holy Spirit.

Scripture as a Mirror of the Soul

I feel like the setup for this week’s passage is found in the last line of last week’s reading. There, in John 14:14, we find the statement, “If in my name you ask me for anything, I will do it.” It seems like this proclamation, attributed to Jesus, has led to generations of christians ending every prayer with, “…in Jesus’s name we pray, amen,” and, producing a crop of disciples who believe in magical thinking. God becomes the genie in a bottle who grants wishes, as long as you ask in Jesus’s name.

I feel like the gaming industry has something to teach us here. The random reward of winning, based on probabilities, is key to the addictive nature of gambling. Similarly in prayer, when our desired outcome comes to pass, we think we have cracked the code, beaten the odds, and won the spiritual battle. In many cases, it was likely just the laws of probability that happened to work in our favor. Does this mean I don’t believe in prayer? Quite the contrary. I believe prayer is a vital spiritual lifeline and an important part of the spiritual journey. However, since the spiritual journey is built upon inward change, what are the implications for prayer?

Jesus tells us that he lives within (verse 19) and the spirit of God, the Advocate, abides within (verse 17). We are invited to do the inward work of coming into alignment with all that God commands, which is to love (15:12). Prayer checks our unloving spirit, whets our appetite for love, and brings all the parts of ourself under the umbrella of love. Prayer enhances our belief in the power of love, awakes us to unloving behavior, and leads us to the kind of healing that only love can produce. Prayer breaks down our own prejudice, exposes our sense of entitlement, and ignites a fire of compassion. Prayer simultaneously holds us accountable while also bringing about abundant freedom.

Here is a simple prayer that might reflect the spirit of John 14, but I could be wrong.: “In the name of Jesus, help me find that inner place of love that changes anything and everything.”

Where does prayer take you?