Whatsoever ye shall ask in my name

The enigmatic saying of St. John 16:23: ("And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you.") refers, I believe, to the Holy Office into which these disciples are to be placed. St. Augustine believed that the words of this Gospel were actually spoken after the resurrection. He may be onto something, since Jesus said, "because I go to the Father," a reference, it would seem, to His ascension. After this, when the Holy Apostolic Office is inaugurated, these men will stand in Jesus' stead (a strong theme for this evangelist) and ask in His name, most especially, for the Holy Bread from heaven, the blessed Sacrament. The sermon.