All Jesus’ words and actions emerge from his intimate relationships with his Father. « Do you not believe, » Jesus says, « that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? What I say to you I do not speak of my own accord: it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his works. You must believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe it on the evidence of these works » (John 14:10-11).

Just as all Jesus’ words and actions emerge from his communion with his Father, so all our words and actions must emerge from our communion with Jesus. « In all truth I tell you, » he says, « whoever believes in me will perform the same works as I do myself, and will perform even greater works. … Whatever you ask for in my name I will do » (John 14:12-13). It is this profound truth that reveals the relationship between the spiritual life and the life of ministry.