Monday of the 4th
Week of Lent
March 31, 2014 8:30am
There are two approaches to faith
in the gospels.
There are times when Jesus is
upset with those who have seen what he does and yet still do not believe.
Jesus at least implies that faith
can follow from the signs and wonders he performs.
Today we see the other approach
to faith – the approach that I think is usually expected of us today.
A royal official, a Roman, not a
Jew, comes up to Jesus and asks him to come to his home and heal his son who is
sick and near death.
This official trusts and believes
in Jesus apart from or before any sign or wonder.
Jesus does not go to the man’s
home but just tells him that his son will live and be okay.
Then the official’s trust and
faith in Jesus finds its confirmation in the healing of his son.
So the official’s trust comes
before the healing.
This approach to faith seem
consistent with Jesus’ words later on to Thomas.
“Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.”
So, this event in today’s gospel calls
us to trust in Jesus and believe in his word.
If we do that, then we will see
things in life differently.
We will see life itself
differently.
We will see God present and God’s
hand at work.
We will even be moved to do great
works and make the light and love of Jesus present in our little corner of the
world.
This, I think, is usually the approach
to faith we are asked to take today.
If we dare to trust and have
faith in the Lord, then we will see and great things will happen.
