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.
Responsorial
PsalmPS 30:2 AND 4, 5-6,
11-12A AND 13B
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.
Verse Before
The GospelAM 5:14
Seek good and not evil so that you may live,
and the LORD will be with you.
and the LORD will be with you.
GospelJN 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.
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."
Believe and take Jesus at his word
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 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 laid his hands on the dying child?
However, 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!
The Lord Jesus brings healing and restoration to those
who trust in him
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.
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."
A Daily Quote for Lent: Christ our physician, by Augustine of
Hippo, 354-430 A.D.
"God sent the human race a physician, a savior,
One Who healed without charging a fee. Christ also came to reward those who
would be healed by Him. Christ heals the sick, and He makes a gift to those
whom He heals. And the gift that He makes is Himself!" (excerpt from Sermon 102,2)
MONDAY, MARCH
27, JOHN 4:43-54
Lenten Weekday
(Isaiah 65:17-21; Psalm 30)
Lenten Weekday
(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).
TO KNOW: 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.
TO LOVE: Do I put my trust in the Lord's healing word?
TO SERVE: Lord Jesus, help me to have faith even when I do not see any evidence.
Monday 27 March 2017
Mon 27th. St John of Egypt. Is
65:17-21; Jn 4:43-54.
‘”Sir …
come down before my child dies.” “Go home,” said Jesus “your son will live.”
The man believed what Jesus had said and started on his way.’ John 4:49-50
Here is a man whose son is dying.
He is a non-believer and a royal official, but he is also a grieving father. In
his despair he has no shame. He pleads with Jesus and he asks for life. Jesus
shows himself to be the master of death and the child is healed. This is
another sign of the power of God at work in Jesus. In all these scenes in the
Gospel of John I am meant to get the message that Jesus truly is life and
light. But Lord, in my life, my grieving continues. I pray for your healing
now. Come and heal us, I pray. In my heart I fear nothing will happen, but
something does happen. I slowly learn to put my life and the life of my beloved
in your hands – like the royal official. Take, Lord, and receive all that I am
and have. All I ask is your love and your grace.
ST. RUPERT
On March 27 the Catholic Church remembers the monk and bishop
Saint Rupert, whose missionary labors built up the Church in two of its
historic strongholds, Austria and Bavaria.
During
his lifetime, the “Apostle of Bavaria and Austria” was an energetic founder of
churches and monasteries, and a remarkably successful evangelist of the regions
– which include the homeland of the Bavarian native Pope Benedict XVI.
Little
is known about Rupert's early life, which is thought to have begun around 660
in the territory of Gaul in modern-day France. There is some indication that he
came from the Merovignian royal line, though he embraced a life of prayer,
fasting, asceticism and charity toward the poor.
This
course of life led to his consecration as the Bishop of Worms in present-day
Germany. Although Rupert was known as a wise and devout bishop, he eventually
met with rejection from the largely pagan population, who beat him savagely and
forced him to leave the city.
After
this painful rejection, Rupert made a pilgrimage to Rome. Two years after his
expulsion from Worms, his prayers were answered by means of a message from Duke
Theodo of Bavaria, who knew of his reputation as a holy man and a sound teacher
of the faith.
Bavaria,
in Rupert's day, was neither fully pagan nor solidly Catholic. Although
missionaries had evangelized the region in the past, the local religion tended
to mix portions of the Christian faith – often misunderstood along heretical
lines – with native pagan beliefs and practices.
The
Bavarian duke sought Rupert's help to restore, correct, and spread the faith in
his land. After sending messengers to report back to him on conditions in
Bavaria, Rupert agreed. The bishop who had been brutally exiled from Worms was
received with honor in the Bavarian city of Regensburg.
With
the help of a group of priests he brought with him, Rupert undertook an
extensive mission in Bavaria and parts of modern-day Austria. His missionary
journeys resulted in many conversions, accompanied by numerous miracles
including the healing of diseases.
In
Salzburg, Rupert and his companions built a great church, which they placed
under the patronage of St. Peter, and a monastery observing the Rule of St.
Benedict. Rupert's niece became the abbess of a Benedictine convent established
nearby.
Rupert
served as both the bishop of Salzburg and the abbot of the Benedictine
monastery he established there. This traditional pairing of the two roles, also
found in the Irish Church after its development of monasticism, was passed on
by St. Rupert's successors until the late 10th century.
St.
Rupert died on March 27, Easter Sunday of the year 718, after preaching and
celebrating Mass.
After
the saint's death, churches and monasteries began to be named after him –
including Salzburg's modern-day Cathedral of St. Rupert (also known as the
“Salzburg Cathedral”), and the Church of St. Rupert which is believed to be the
oldest surviving church structure in Vienna.
LECTIO DIVINA: JOHN 4,43-54
Lectio Divina:
Monday, March 27, 2017
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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