Believing

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

We suffer when our children are sick, and when they are gravely ill, we would do anything to save them. The official who begged Jesus to heal his son was violating all sorts of protocols and rules. He was way out of hi comfort zone and risked his job and income for his child. He was hopeful when he drew close to Jesus but also fearful when he was sent away. We too often ask Jesus for what we need but become fearful and afraid. Yet, we find that his timid belief became reality when he heard the good news, and his faith spread through his whole household. May we be those who spread our belief to our whole communities and trust that God is always in the process of bringing healing.

Healing Creator you are the source of blessing

the winds carry new life in these seasons

the rain waters, the sun dries out the earth

and the world blossoms with your gifts.

We are prone to fear and great anxiety daily

we try to fix our problems and mend the hurts

we forget to give you all of our burdens

since you have promised to carry them all.

Help us seek you out in every morning

may we trust in your promise of new life

may our faith be real, active and contagious

so that the world might see and know your love. Amen.