Monday of the Fourth Week of Lent
Faith in the Future
Introduction
For people who believe, the golden age lies in the future, not in the past, says the third section of the book of Isaiah. Before the exile, the Jews and their prophets looked to the beginnings, to the past, as the golden era from which humankind had declined. Now the prophet turns to the future. For the believer there is a new world to be built as a sign of the new heaven. Life lies in the future.
The building up of this new world began seriously in Christ. His word renews people. Faith in him brings life and healing, something to live for and joy – now and even more so in the future: a new world, a new relationship with God, a new People of God.
Prayer
Lord our God, almighty Father,
you want us not to turn to the past
to regret it and to mourn over it
but to hope in the future,
in the new earth and the new heaven.
Give us a firm faith
in your Son Jesus Christ,
that notwithstanding the shortcomings of our time
we may have faith in the future,
which you want us to build up
with your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
First Reading: Isaiah 65:17-21
God also says:
“Pay close attention now:
I’m creating new heavens and a new earth.
All the earlier troubles, chaos, and pain
are things of the past, to be forgotten.
Look ahead with joy.
Anticipate what I’m creating:
I’ll create Jerusalem as sheer joy,
create my people as pure delight.
I’ll take joy in Jerusalem,
take delight in my people:
No more sounds of weeping in the city,
no cries of anguish;
No more babies dying in the cradle,
or old people who don’t enjoy a full lifetime;
One-hundredth birthdays will be considered normal—
anything less will seem like a cheat.
They’ll build houses
and move in.
Responsorial Psalm
I will extol you, O LORD, for you drew me clear
and did not let my enemies rejoice over me.
O LORD, you brought me up from the nether world;
you preserved me from among those going down into the pit.
R. I will praise you, Lord, for you have rescued me.
Sing praise to the LORD, you his faithful ones,
and give thanks to his holy name.
For his anger lasts but a moment;
a lifetime, his good will.
At nightfall, weeping enters in,
but with the dawn, rejoicing.
R. I will praise you, Lord, for you have rescued me.
“Hear, O LORD, and have pity on me;
O LORD, be my helper.”
You changed my mourning into dancing;
O LORD, my God, forever will I give you thanks.
R. I will praise you, Lord, for you have rescued me.
Verse Before the Gospel
and the LORD will be with you.
Gospel: John 4:43-54
After the two days he left for Galilee. Now, Jesus knew well from experience that a prophet is not respected in the place where he grew up. So when he arrived in Galilee, the Galileans welcomed him, but only because they were impressed with what he had done in Jerusalem during the Passover Feast, not that they really had a clue about who he was or what he was up to.
Now he was back in Cana of Galilee, the place where he made the water into wine. Meanwhile in Capernaum, there was a certain official from the king’s court whose son was sick. When he heard that Jesus had come from Judea to Galilee, he went and asked that he come down and heal his son, who was on the brink of death. Jesus put him off: “Unless you people are dazzled by a miracle, you refuse to believe.”
But the court official wouldn’t be put off. “Come down! It’s life or death for my son.”
Jesus simply replied, “Go home. Your son lives.”
The man believed the bare word Jesus spoke and headed home. On his way back, his servants intercepted him and announced, “Your son lives!”
He asked them what time he began to get better. They said, “The fever broke yesterday afternoon at one o’clock.” The father knew that that was the very moment Jesus had said, “Your son lives.”
That clinched it. Not only he but his entire household believed. This was now the second sign Jesus gave after having come from Judea into Galilee.
Intercessions
– Lord, speak only your word, and we shall be healed; we pray.
– Lord, touch us with your grace, and we shall become new and courageous people; we pray.
– Lord, give us yourself again, and you shall make us capable of giving ourselves to others; we pray.
Prayer over the Gifts
Lord our God, these are our gifts:
no more than a little bread and wine,
ordinary bread, a simple drink of joy,
but they become among us
the signs of a great future.
Give us faith, Lord,
a faith strong enough to believe
with absolute certainty
that everything becomes possible,
that we can build up
a new heaven and a new earth
in and through your Son,
Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Prayer after Communion
Lord, God of our future,
we believe in your Son Jesus Christ,
who has been with us
in this eucharistic celebration.
On account of him we are convinced
that even death leads to life,
that there are no barriers
to what you can do with us,
unreliable as we are at times,
that all our dreams can come true
beyond all our expectations
in Jesus Christ our Lord.
Blessing
Every year the Church gives us this Lent as an opportunity to become the kind of followers of Christ we were meant to be: courageous, close to God, thinking again of others rather than of ourselves and our own petty interests. Continue to let the Lord renew you, with the blessing of almighty God, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Reflection:
11 March 2024
Jn 4:43-54
Hope, Faith and Love
Do you approach the Lord Jesus with expectant faith for healing, pardon, and transformation? When a high-ranking official hears the reports of Jesus’ preaching and miracles, he approaches Jesus for an extraordinary favour. If this story happened today, the media headlines would probably say: “High-ranking official leaves capital in search of a miracle cure from a small–town carpenter!“
Although the court official travelled a long distance to find Jesus, Jesus seemed to put him off with the blunt statement that people would not believe unless they saw some miracle or sign from heaven. It must have been difficult and disheartening for the official.
The official comes to Jesus, placing his hope in Jesus’ power to heal his son. He wants Jesus to go with him before his son dies. But, all that he received was an assurance – a word from Jesus: “Go, your son will live.” It was another act of faith from the court official to have faith in Jesus’ word without doubt or hesitation. He came with hope and now returns with faith.
Is there any area in our life where you need healing, pardon, change, and restoration? If we seek the Lord with trust and expectant faith, he will not disappoint us. Surrender your doubts and fears, your pride and guilt at his feet, and trust in his saving word and healing love.
“Lord Jesus, give me the courage to surrender my stubborn pride, fears and doubts to your love and mercy. Make me strong in faith, persevering in hope, and constant in love.”