The last Supper discourse continues with a remarkable statement by Jesus: "Whatever you ask in my name, I will do." Jesus says it twice in this passage. (He will say it five more times in this discourse.)
There is something very significant to notice here. The "you" is plural. In other words, Jesus is talking about his disciples (including future disciples) praying as a group - a believing, worshiping community.
Rabbis taught that when two or more believing Jews sat together to talk about the Law, the divine presence was with them. Jesus reworks that thought to say that when his disciples pray in his name, he is with them.
This has major implication for, among other things, our celebration of the Eucharist. The rituals, Scripture readings, prayers, music aren't provided so that each of us as individuals can become absorbed in our own private prayer. There's a time and a place for that. but there's special power in a praying community, because Jesus is specially present in such a community.
This is an awareness we need to recover - a sense of the Lord present among us as a connected group, and a sense of the power of such prayer.
At Mass this evening or tomorrow, try to experience the presence and power of the risen Lord in the entire assembly.
- Little White Book, Diocese of Saginaw