Gospel: John 4:43-54
At that time Jesus left [Samaria] for Galilee.
For Jesus himself testified
that a prophet has no honor in his native place.
When he came into Galilee, the Galileans welcomed him,
since they had seen all he had done in Jerusalem at the feast;
for they themselves had gone to the feast.
Then he returned to Cana in Galilee,
where he had made the water wine.
Now there was a royal official whose son was ill in Capernaum.
When he heard that Jesus had arrived in Galilee from Judea,
he went to him and asked him to come down
and heal his son, who was near death.
Jesus said to him,
“Unless you people see signs and wonders, you will not believe.”
The royal official said to him,
“Sir, come down before my child dies.”
Jesus said to him, “You may go; your son will live.”
The man believed what Jesus said to him and left.
While the man was on his way back,
his slaves met him and told him that his boy would live.
He asked them when he began to recover.
They told him,
“The fever left him yesterday, about one in the afternoon.”
The father realized that just at that time Jesus had said to him,
“Your son will live,”
and he and his whole household came to believe.
Now this was the second sign Jesus did
when he came to Galilee from Judea.
The Gospel of the Lord.
The Mass intention is for Arlene Ther.
Reflection:
Jesus was welcomed in Galilee, his native place. Take note that He was once rejected here. He was welcomed because they saw for themselves “all He had done in Jerusalem”. The Lord knew what was in their hearts which was why when a royal official asked Him to heal his dying son, Jesus told him “Unless you people see signs and wonders, you will not believe.” The Galileans only believed Jesus because they saw Him perform wonders. For them “seeing is believing”.
The royal official behaved differently. Instead of being put off by Jesus’ reply, he pressed on “Sir, come down before my child dies”. For a father, whose son was near death, Jesus was his only hope. Although Jesus did not come down with him, the man believed in the Lord’s assurance of healing. For the royal official, “believing is seeing”. This Lenten season, Jesus is challenging us to listen to Him and have a deeper faith – a faith that does not need to see any signs or wonders, a faith like a child to its parents, a faith that sees Him as our only hope.
- Which character do you easily identify with: the Galileans or the royal official? Why or why not?
- How can Jesus be your only hope?
- “If God seems slow in responding, it is because He is preparing a better gift. He will not deny us. God withholds what you are not yet ready for. He wants you to have a lively desire for His greatest gifts. All of which is to say, pray always and do not lose heart.” (St Augustine) How true are these words in your life?
Lord Jesus, thank You for Your Word today. Increase our faith and hope in You that we may become worthy of receiving the gifts You are preparing for us. Amen.
Suggested Lenten penance: Reconnect with someone who was responsible for helping you grow in the faith.
(Pietro)
