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.
Reflection
This passage has an essential meaning of having unending faith in our savior. A man had begged for Jesus to save his son who was dying. The man expected Jesus to help him, but Jesus approached him in a different, calmer manner.
Jesus said the man needed to believe that his son would live instead of turning away from him. Instead of protesting, the man had faith and came home to find his son beginning to recover. This passage shows that by believing in God and following his word, good things will come.
We are inspired by this man who had to put his full trust in Jesus when he told him his son was going to live. Often times, people expect Jesus to help them when they are going through struggles, but life doesn’t always turn out how they want. Jesus shows us through this reading that as long as we keep our faith in him everything will fall into place.
An example of this occurred after Jesus died. While the disciples were hiding, they too were reminded to keep their faith and Jesus did eventually reappear to them.
People don’t always notice what Jesus does for them, but reflecting on their struggles they realize Jesus was there all along and that he works in mysterious ways.
Erica Pereszlenyi, 17, St. Thomas More Catholic Community
VYC Delegate 2012
- Being Viatorian is important because it shows me how to live by God’s word everyday and show people the true meaning of the church.
- One thing I am doing to grow closer to God this Lenten Season is praying more often. During VYC, I was given the option to learn different forms of prayer which was eye opening.