Monday of the Fourth Week of Lent
Lectionary: 244
Lectionary: 244
Thus
says the LORD:
Lo, I am about to create new heavens
and a new earth;
The things of the past shall not be remembered
or come to mind.
Instead, there shall always be rejoicing and happiness
in what I create;
For I create Jerusalem to be a joy
and its people to be a delight;
I will rejoice in Jerusalem
and exult in my people.
No longer shall the sound of weeping be heard there,
or the sound of crying;
No longer shall there be in it
an infant who lives but a few days,
or an old man who does not round out his full lifetime;
He dies a mere youth who reaches but a hundred years,
and he who fails of a hundred shall be thought accursed.
They shall live in the houses they build,
and eat the fruit of the vineyards they plant.
Lo, I am about to create new heavens
and a new earth;
The things of the past shall not be remembered
or come to mind.
Instead, there shall always be rejoicing and happiness
in what I create;
For I create Jerusalem to be a joy
and its people to be a delight;
I will rejoice in Jerusalem
and exult in my people.
No longer shall the sound of weeping be heard there,
or the sound of crying;
No longer shall there be in it
an infant who lives but a few days,
or an old man who does not round out his full lifetime;
He dies a mere youth who reaches but a hundred years,
and he who fails of a hundred shall be thought accursed.
They shall live in the houses they build,
and eat the fruit of the vineyards they plant.
R.
(2a) I will praise you, Lord, for you have rescued me.
I will extol you, O LORD, for you drew me clear
and did not let my enemies rejoice over me.
O LORD, you brought me up from the nether world;
you preserved me from among those going down into the pit.
R. I will praise you, Lord, for you have rescued me.
Sing praise to the LORD, you his faithful ones,
and give thanks to his holy name.
For his anger lasts but a moment;
a lifetime, his good will.
At nightfall, weeping enters in,
but with the dawn, rejoicing.
R. I will praise you, Lord, for you have rescued me.
“Hear, O LORD, and have pity on me;
O LORD, be my helper.”
You changed my mourning into dancing;
O LORD, my God, forever will I give you thanks.
R. I will praise you, Lord, for you have rescued me.
I will extol you, O LORD, for you drew me clear
and did not let my enemies rejoice over me.
O LORD, you brought me up from the nether world;
you preserved me from among those going down into the pit.
R. I will praise you, Lord, for you have rescued me.
Sing praise to the LORD, you his faithful ones,
and give thanks to his holy name.
For his anger lasts but a moment;
a lifetime, his good will.
At nightfall, weeping enters in,
but with the dawn, rejoicing.
R. I will praise you, Lord, for you have rescued me.
“Hear, O LORD, and have pity on me;
O LORD, be my helper.”
You changed my mourning into dancing;
O LORD, my God, forever will I give you thanks.
R. I will praise you, Lord, for you have rescued me.
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.
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.
Meditation: Jesus - the
divine physician
Do
you approach the Lord Jesus with expectant faith for healing, pardon, and
transformation in Christ-like holiness? Isaiah prophesied that God would come
not only to restore his people, he would also come to recreate new
heavens and a new earth (Isaiah 65:17). Jesus' miracles are signs that
manifest the presence of God and the coming of his kingdom of power and glory.
When a high ranking official, who was very likely from King Herod's court,
heard the reports of Jesus’ preaching and miracles, he decided to seek Jesus
out for an extraordinary favor. If this story happened today the media
headlines would probably say: "High ranking official leaves capital in
search of miracle cure from a small town carpenter."
It
took raw courage for a high ranking court official to travel twenty miles in
search of Jesus, the Galilean carpenter. He had to swallow his pride and put up
with some ridicule from his cronies. And when he found the healer carpenter, Jesus
seemed to put him off with the blunt statement that people would not believe
unless they saw some kind of miracle or sign from heaven. Jesus likely said
this to test the man to see if his faith was in earnest. If he turned away in
irritation or with discouragement, he would prove to be insincere. Jesus,
perceiving his faith, sent him home with the assurance that his prayer had been
heard.
It
was probably not easy for this man to return to his family with only an
assuring word from Jesus that his son would be healed. Couldn't Jesus have come
to this man's house and layed his hands on the dying child? Without a moment's
hesitation, the court official believed in Jesus and took him at his word. He
began his journey back home with renewed faith and hope - ready to face
whatever might await him - whether it be the anguish of his distraught family
and or the scorn of unbelieving neighbors. Before he could even make it all the
way back to his home town, news reached him that his son had recovered. What
astonishment must have greeted his family and friends when they heard that his
son was instantly restored to health at the very moment when Jesus had
pronounced the words - your son will live!
Jesus'
miraculous healings show his generous kindness and extravagant love - a love
that bends down in response to our misery and wretched condition. Is there any
area in your life where you need healing, pardon, change, and restoration? If
you seek the Lord with trust and expectant faith, he will not disappoint you.
He will meet you more than half way and give you what you need. The Lord Jesus
never refused anyone who put their trust in him. Surrender your doubts and
fears, your pride and guilt at his feet, and trust in his saving word and
healing love.
"Lord
Jesus, your love never fails and your mercy is unceasing. Give me the courage
to surrender my stubborn pride, fear and doubts to your surpassing love, wisdom
and knowledge. Make be strong in faith, persevering in hope, and constant in
love."
 The Royal Official’s Request for a Miracle |
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Monday of the Fourth Week of Lent
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Father Steven Reilly, LC
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 he 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.
Introductory Prayer: Father, I come before
you with faith, hope and love. I will give my best effort to be attentive to
your grace and inspiration during this time of prayer.
Petition: Lord, help me to have greater fortitude and
faith.
1. No Prophet Has Honor in His Native Place: Pay careful attention
to how St. John the Evangelist introduced this saying of Jesus. “At that time
Jesus left Samaria for Galilee. For Jesus himself testified that a prophet
has no honor in his native place.” If Jesus knew there were no honors
awaiting him in Galilee, why not go somewhere where the reception would be
better? Jesus is trying to give us an example: he is not interested in
“honor”, but rather in carrying out the mission. He is the Prophet par
excellence. He himself is the message the Father has for humanity, and
personal considerations will not keep him from his appointed task. We must be
committed in our own personal mission, whether or not we can expect to be
honored, or even appreciated. Our purity of intention is a good thermometer
for following Christ.
2. Signs and Wonders: Jesus does the
miracle, but not without reminding everyone that true faith cannot simply be
based on “signs and wonders.” Why is this? Perhaps what Jesus is criticizing
is the jaded religious outlook that can experience the presence of the divine
only in the spectacular, while failing to perceive it in the quiet and small
ways that God makes his presence known. With deeper faith, we can see God all
around us. That beautiful sunset – isn’t it a masterpiece of God’s creative
power on display? The unexpected apology – wasn’t that the working of grace?
That helping hand stretched out to us just when we needed it – wasn’t that
Christ in our midst? The person whose faith doesn’t need “signs and wonders”
is precisely the person who sees so many more signs and wonders – the
everyday, loving presence of the Lord.
3. “He and His Whole Household Came to Believe.” No grace given is
strictly personal, just between “me and Jesus.” Everything is meant to
radiate beyond the individual to build up the entire body of Christ. The
royal official received the miracle he requested, but afterwards it wasn’t
simply a return to business as usual, now that his son was back in action.
Indeed, the healing was the occasion for something far bigger: “His whole
household came to believe.” This grace has borne abundant fruit. At the
outset, our Lord had remarked about the lack of honor given to the native
son-prophet. This entire family and household coming to faith is the
confirmation that sacrificing honor is more than compensated by saving souls.
Conversation with Christ: Lord Jesus, what joy
this family’s conversion must have given to your heart! Their faith was a
marvelous sign of the efficacy of your grace. Help me to have greater faith,
to see you present in the small and big things of life, and to draw others
closer to you.
Resolution: Like the royal official, I want to help my
family to have a deeper faith. I will bring up a spiritual topic at family
dinner and try to encourage a more faith-filled perspective.
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MONDAY, MARCH 31, JOHN 4:43-54(Isaiah
65:17-21; Psalm 30)
KEY VERSE: "Jesus said to him, `Your son will live,' and he and his whole household came to believe" (v 53).
READING: Jesus returned to Cana in Galilee where he had changed water to wine (Jn 2:1-12), the first "sign," or self-revelation of Jesus in John's gospel. A royal official approached Jesus and begged him to heal his dying son. Jesus was dismayed because the people refused to believe in him unless they witnessed "signs and wonders" (v 48). When the man begged him a second time, Jesus told him that his son would live. On the strength of Jesus' word, the official returned to his home. On the way, his servants met him and announced that the man's son had recovered at the very hour that Jesus declared he would live. The official and his whole household came to believe in Jesus' saving power. This was the second sign that Jesus performed in Cana in Galilee.
REFLECTING: Do I put my trust in the Lord's healing word?
PRAYING: Lord Jesus, help me to have faith even when I do not see any evidence.
MINUTE MEDITATIONS
Emulating Jesus
By Baptism, the fundamental and common vocation of all Christians
is to become disciples of Jesus Christ—people who follow “the way” that he
modeled and made more possible by his living, dying, and rising.
I will praise you, Lord, for you
have rescued me
‘Go home, your son will live.’It is an unlikely meeting. Facing ridicule from his friends and colleagues, a desperate royal official (probably from Herod’s court), travels 30 kilometres to Cana to beg Jesus to come immediately to Capernaum to heal his dying son. His faith in the Galilean carpenter is sorely tested when the only assurance he receives from Jesus is that, on his return, he will find the boy fully recovered. Confronted with this sign (John’s preferred word for miracle), the official enters more fully into the mystery revealed in Jesus. Like the Samaritan woman and her townspeople we met earlier in this chapter, he and his whole household become Jesus’ disciples. ‘Lord, make me strong in faith, persevering in hope and constant in love.’
March
31
St. Stephen of Mar Saba
(d. 794)
St. Stephen of Mar Saba
(d. 794)
A "do not disturb" sign helped today's saint find
holiness and peace.
Stephen
of Mar Saba was the nephew of St. John Damascene, who introduced the young boy
to monastic life beginning at age 10. When he reached 24, Stephen served the
community in a variety of ways, including guest master. After some time he
asked permission to live a hermit's life. The answer from the abbot was yes and
no: Stephen could follow his preferred lifestyle during the week, but on
weekends he was to offer his skills as a counselor. Stephen placed a note on
the door of his cell: "Forgive me, Fathers, in the name of the Lord, but
please do not disturb me except on Saturdays and Sundays."
Despite
his calling to prayer and quiet, Stephen displayed uncanny skills with people
and was a valued spiritual guide.
His
biographer and disciple wrote about Stephen: "Whatever help, spiritual or
material, he was asked to give, he gave. He received and honored all with the
same kindness. He possessed nothing and lacked nothing. In total poverty he
possessed all things."
Stephen
died in 794.
LECTIO DIVINA:
JOHN 4,43-54
Lectio:
Monday, March 31, 2014
Lent Time
1)
OPENING PRAYER
Lord our God, almighty Father,
you want us not to turn to the past
to regret it and to mourn over it
but to hope in the future,
in the new earth and the new heaven.
Give us a firm faith
in your Son Jesus Christ,
that notwithstanding the shortcomings of our time
we may have faith in the future,
which you want us to build up
with your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
you want us not to turn to the past
to regret it and to mourn over it
but to hope in the future,
in the new earth and the new heaven.
Give us a firm faith
in your Son Jesus Christ,
that notwithstanding the shortcomings of our time
we may have faith in the future,
which you want us to build up
with your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
2)
GOSPEL READING - JOHN 4, 43-54.
When the two days were over Jesus left for Galilee. He himself
had declared that a prophet is not honoured in his own home town. On his
arrival the Galileans received him well, having seen all that he had done at
Jerusalem during the festival which they too had attended.
He went again to Cana in Galilee, where he had changed the water
into wine. And there was a royal official whose son was ill at Capernaum;
hearing that Jesus had arrived in Galilee from Judaea, he went and asked him to
come and cure his son, as he was at the point of death. Jesus said to him,
'Unless you see signs and portents you will not believe!' 'Sir,' answered the
official, 'come down before my child dies.' 'Go home,' said Jesus, 'your son
will live.' The man believed what Jesus had said and went on his way home; and
while he was still on the way his servants met him with the news that his boy
was alive. He asked them when the boy had begun to recover. They replied, 'The
fever left him yesterday at the seventh hour.' The father realised that this
was exactly the time when Jesus had said, 'Your son will live'; and he and all
his household believed. This new sign, the second, Jesus performed on his
return from Judaea to Galilee.
3)
REFLECTION
• Jesus had left Galilee, and directed himself toward Judah, in
order to arrive to Jerusalem on the occasion of the festival (Jn 4, 45) and,
passing through Samaria, he was returning again toward Galilee (Jn 4, 3-4). The
observant Jews were forbidden to pass through Samaria, and they could not even
speak with the Samaritans (Jn 4, 9). Jesus did not care about these norms which
prevented friendship and dialogue. He remained several days in Samaria and many
people were converted (Jn 4, 40). After that, he decided to return to Galilee.
• John 4, 43-46ª: The return toward Galilee. Even though Jesus
knew that the people of Galilee had a certain reservation toward him, he wished
to return to his own home town. Probably, John refers to how badly Jesus was
received, accepted in Nazareth of Galilee. Jesus himself had declared that “No
prophet is honoured in his own home town” (Lk 4, 24). But now, before the
evidence of what he had done in Jerusalem, the Galileans change their opinion
and received him well. Jesus then returns to Cana where he had worked the first
“sign” (Jn 2,11).
• John 4, 46b-47: The petition of the court official. It is the
case of a pagan. A short time before, in Samaria, Jesus had spoken with a
Samaritan woman, an heretic person according to the Jews, to whom Jesus
revealed his condition of Messiah (Jn 4, 26). And now, in Galilee, he receives
a pagan, the official of the king, who was seeking help for his sick son. Jesus
does not limit himself to help those of his race only, nor those of his own
religion. He is ecumenical and receives all.
• John 4, 48: The answer of Jesus to the court official. The
official wanted Jesus to go with him to his house to cure his son. Jesus
answered: “Unless you see signs and portents you will not believe!” A harsh and
strange answer. Why does Jesus answer in this way? What was wrong with the
petition of the official? What did Jesus want to attain through this response?
Jesus wants to teach how our faith should be. The official would believe only
if Jesus went with him to his house. He wanted to see Jesus curing. In general,
this is the attitude that we all have. We are not aware of the deficiency of
our faith.
• John 4, 49-50: The official repeats his petition and Jesus
repeats the response. In spite of the answer of Jesus, the man does not keep
silence and repeats the same petition:. “Sir, come down before my child dies!”
Jesus continues to keep his stand. He does not respond to the petition and does
not go with the man to his house and repeats the same response, but formulated
in a different way: “Go home! Your son will live!” Both in the first as well as
in the second response, Jesus asks for faith, much faith. He asks that the
official believes that his son has already been cured. And the true miracle
takes place! Without seeing any sign, nor any portent, the man believes in
Jesus’ word and returns home. It should not have been easy. This is the true
miracle of faith; to believe without any other guarantee, except the Word of
Jesus. The ideal is to believe in the word of Jesus, even without seeing (cf.
Jn 20, 29).
• John 4, 51-53: The result of faith in the word of Jesus. When
the man was on the way to his home, his servants saw him and ran to meet him to
tell him that his son had been cured, that he was alive. He asked them when the
boy had begun to recover and discovered that it was exactly the time when Jesus
had said: “Your son will live!” He was confirmed in his faith.
• John 4, 54: A summary presented by John, the Evangelist. John
ends by saying: “This new sign, the second, Jesus preformed”. John prefers to
speak of sign and not of miracle. The word sign recalls something which I see with
my eyes, but which only faith can make me discover its profound sense. Faith is
like an X-Ray: it makes one discover that which the naked eye cannot see.
4)
PERSONAL QUESTIONS
• How do you live your faith? Do you have faith in God’s word or
do you only believe in miracles and in sensitive, perceptible experiences?
• Jesus accepts heretics and foreigners. And I, how do I relate
with persons?
5)
CONCLUDING PRAYER
Make music for Yahweh,
all you who are faithful to him,
praise his unforgettable holiness.
His anger lasts but a moment,
his favour through life;
In the evening come tears,
but with dawn cries of joy. (Ps 30,4-5)
all you who are faithful to him,
praise his unforgettable holiness.
His anger lasts but a moment,
his favour through life;
In the evening come tears,
but with dawn cries of joy. (Ps 30,4-5)
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