Reflection on 1Jn 3:22

It is said that whatever we ask we receive. And the reason: because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight.

In the previous verses, starting from verse 18, the Apostle John points out the importance of a sincere heart before God. He writes: “My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth. And by this we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before Him. For if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things. Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence toward God.”

This word of life emphasizes that we receive whatever we ask. The condition for our prayers to be heard is to keep His commandments and to do those things that are pleasing in His sight.

Verse 23 says concretely what His commandment is: that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another, as He gave us commandment. What does it mean? Jesus says: “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.” He laid down His life for us. And we should love our neighbour as ourselves. It means: if we wish the highest good, i.e. eternal life, for ourselves, we also wish it for our neighbour, brother or sister. Therefore we should carry out a mission of prayer, a mission of word or a mission of suffering. This is our concrete love of neighbour.

Download: Reflection on 1Jn 3:22