Healing

When the two days were over, he went from that place to Galilee (for Jesus himself had testified that a prophet has no honor in the prophet’s own country). When he came to Galilee, the Galileans welcomed him, since they had seen all that he had done in Jerusalem at the festival; for they too had gone to the festival. Then he came again to Cana in Galilee where he had changed the water into wine. Now there was a royal official whose son lay ill in Capernaum. When he heard that Jesus had come from Judea to Galilee, he went and begged him to come down and heal his son, for he was at the point of death. Then Jesus said to him, “Unless you see signs and wonders you will not believe.” The official said to him, “Sir, come down before my little boy dies.” Jesus said to him, “Go; your son will live.” The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and started on his way. As he was going down, his slaves met him and told him that his child was alive. So he asked them the hour when he began to recover, and they said to him, “Yesterday at one in the afternoon the fever left him.” The father realized that this was the hour when Jesus had said to him, “Your son will live.” So he himself believed, along with his whole household. Now this was the second sign that Jesus did after coming from Judea to Galilee. John 4:43-54 

I spent part of yesterday having tests that will help my doctor determine what might nee to be done. This particular test involved stimulating nerves and muscles and included electrical pulses and needles. It was uncomfortable and long. I found myself praying, for myself and for the doctor. I always hope that there might be an instant cure. Like the official's son, I would like to recover instantaneously. I have sometimes thought I didn't have enough faith and chastised myself for my weakness. Yet I have grown to understand that with each illness and each healing, however they happen, God is with us. Time and space fall away, and we are close to God, even when we feel helpless or abandoned.

Loving Creator, source of all healing

you taught our ancestors to trust your gifts

you gave us strong faith so we might thrive

and blessed us with communities to nurture us.

We are often impatient and frustrated

thinking you are far off and distant from us

yet you draw closer in our suffering 

and surround us with your arms of love.

Help us to be those ready to draw close

let us walk in faith so that love might flow

and help us to see you in our challenges always. Amen.