Today's Reading
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.
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.
Reflection
Jesus is always giving us signs and working wonders, but we often do not acknowledge them, for we think they came from another source. When we do not receive what we expected, we claim that God does not care about us, or even exist. In our pride, we are convinced we know what is best and God should act only as we see fit. How often do we want Him to wow us with what we want, but then want to be left alone from what He asks of us? It is only when we believe and allow the Lord to open our eyes, that we are able to see the miracles He is continuously working around us and through us. Seeing strengthens our belief, but believing is what makes us see.
The man in today’s Gospel went far out of his way, from Capernaum to Cana in pursuit of Jesus. He must have possessed such faith in Jesus, or why would he have left his suffering son? If those in his household did not believe, would they have been upset he left or think he was foolish? Because he had the courage to go anyways, he becomes a great example for us. He believed, he asked, and he received.The man had no proof that his son had been healed, but he returned home as Jesus told him. Only on his way, does he learn his son was healed at the precise hour Jesus said. Jesus could have chosen to heal the child at any time, but He chose a time that would lead to further conviction, not just for the man, but for his entire household.
In our own lives, God’s perfect timing sometimes results in an immediate response and other times it may take some time before His Power is made manifest, but it is always when it is best. If we do not believe God has responded to our prayer, then we should first ask Him what it is He desires to show us. Today, instead of praying out of selfishness, let us ask the Lord to mold our desires to His. When we do this, we will always be satisfied with His response, for His will becomes our own. If we seek Jesus, regardless of what suffering we may be called to endure along the way, there will always be peace, joy, and strength from a greater good.
Jesus is always giving us signs and working wonders, but we often do not acknowledge them, for we think they came from another source. When we do not receive what we expected, we claim that God does not care about us, or even exist. In our pride, we are convinced we know what is best and God should act only as we see fit. How often do we want Him to wow us with what we want, but then want to be left alone from what He asks of us? It is only when we believe and allow the Lord to open our eyes, that we are able to see the miracles He is continuously working around us and through us. Seeing strengthens our belief, but believing is what makes us see.
The man in today’s Gospel went far out of his way, from Capernaum to Cana in pursuit of Jesus. He must have possessed such faith in Jesus, or why would he have left his suffering son? If those in his household did not believe, would they have been upset he left or think he was foolish? Because he had the courage to go anyways, he becomes a great example for us. He believed, he asked, and he received.The man had no proof that his son had been healed, but he returned home as Jesus told him. Only on his way, does he learn his son was healed at the precise hour Jesus said. Jesus could have chosen to heal the child at any time, but He chose a time that would lead to further conviction, not just for the man, but for his entire household.
In our own lives, God’s perfect timing sometimes results in an immediate response and other times it may take some time before His Power is made manifest, but it is always when it is best. If we do not believe God has responded to our prayer, then we should first ask Him what it is He desires to show us. Today, instead of praying out of selfishness, let us ask the Lord to mold our desires to His. When we do this, we will always be satisfied with His response, for His will becomes our own. If we seek Jesus, regardless of what suffering we may be called to endure along the way, there will always be peace, joy, and strength from a greater good.
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