THE WORD BECAME FLESH

Monday in the fourth week in Lent, 2021

Isa 65: 17-21

Ps 30

John 4:43-54

Go, your son will live

In the gospel reading Jesus addresses the royal official as a representative of the Galileans who will not believe unless they see signs and wonders. Jesus was not impressed by a faith that was based on the extraordinary or unusual. Instead he looked for a faith that was based on his word, a faith that took him at his word and responded to that word.

This was the faith that the royal official went on to display. The gospel reading says, ‘the man believed what Jesus had said and started on his way’. Because he believed the word that Jesus spoke, his request to Jesus was heard, his son was cured. The gospel reading suggests that while our faith is not to be based on signs and wonders, yet if we entrust ourselves to the Lord’s word and live our lives according to his word then we will see signs and wonders. The Lord’s word will work powerfully in and through our lives.

In the words of prophet Isaiah, this morning, the Lord will create new heavens and new earth through us. Those who entrust themselves to the word of the Lord will experience the Lord’s creative and life-giving power at work within them. We pray this morning that, like the royal official, we will go on our way in response to the Lord’s word.

Let us pray: O God, we are sorry for the many times we have failed to heed your call to repentance. Help us heal our land and heal us too of our infirmities and our cravings. Amen.

+Remain blessed