Go, Your Child Will Live

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 remember, years ago, when I was twelve, I was facing major surgery. In the very early morning, I woke up in my hospital room and witnessed my father, praying and crying, sitting on the windowsill. I could not say a word, but silently watched, pretending to sleep, if he looked my way. My Dad never cried, he was tough and strong always. I realized then that my father's prayer would save me, even if the doctors failed. And, I knew my prayer life and faith would need to be strong as well.

Gracious Creator, lover of all children

you have a parent's tender heart

aching for healing for all of us

wanting the best for all of the children.

We, your beloved children resist

resisting the healing we really need

stubborn and competitive always

thinking we can fix our problems.

Humble us as little children today

give us your loving, tender heart

make us compassionate and soft

so we might serve the world today. Amen.