John 4:43-54

Isaiah 65:17-21

Psalm 30:2 and 4, 5-6, 11-12a and 13b

John 4:43-54

At that time Jesus left [Samaria] for Galilee.

For Jesus himself testified

that a prophet has no honor in his native place.

When he came into Galilee, the Galileans welcomed him,

since they had seen all he had done in Jerusalem at the feast;

for they themselves had gone to the feast.

Then he returned to Cana in Galilee,

where he had made the water wine.

Now there was a royal official whose son was ill in Capernaum.

When he heard that Jesus had arrived in Galilee from Judea,

he went to him and asked him to come down

and heal his son, who was near death.

Jesus said to him,

“Unless you people see signs and wonders, you will not believe.”

The royal official said to him,

“Sir, come down before my child dies.”

Jesus said to him, “You may go; your son will live.”

The man believed what Jesus said to him and left.

While the man was on his way back,

his slaves met him and told him that his boy would live.

He asked them when he began to recover.

They told him,

“The fever left him yesterday, about one in the afternoon.”

The father realized that just at that time Jesus had said to him,

“Your son will live,”

and he and his whole household came to believe.

Now this was the second sign Jesus did

when he came to Galilee from Judea.

Opening Prayer: Lord God, I contemplate today the works and signs your Son accomplished. They are invitations to faith in you and in your Son and in your Holy Spirit. Deepen my faith so that I may truly act as a faithful believer.

Encountering the Word of God

1. The Purpose of Signs in John’s Gospel: The weekday Gospels during the first three weeks of Lent concentrated on the Lenten practices of prayer, almsgiving, and fasting, the need for conversion and repentance, and the gift of divine mercy. During the next two weeks, we will hear Gospel passages from the first part of the Gospel according to John. The miracle in today’s Gospel is called by John “the second sign.” John says that the signs in his Gospel were written so that we may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that in believing we may have life in Jesus’ name (see John 20:31). Jesus himself affirms today that signs can lead the people to belief: “Unless you people see signs and wonders, you will not believe.” John records seven signs in his Gospel for us. The first part of John’s Gospel (chapters 1-11) contains six signs: the first sign is the changing of water into wine at the wedding at Cana (2:11); the second sign is the healing of the royal official’s son (4:54); the third sign is the healing of the paralytic on the Sabbath; the fourth sign is the multiplication of the loaves (6:14); the fifth sign is the restoration of sight to the blind man on the Sabbath (yesterday’s Gospel: ); the sixth sign is the raising of Lazarus (11:38-45). The seventh and ultimate sign is found in the second half of John’s Gospel and is Jesus’ Resurrection.

2. The Sacraments as Greater Works: Signs are good, but they point to something else, to something greater. In John 14:12, Jesus says: “He who believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I go to the Father.” The greater works that we will be empowered to do are the Sacraments of the Church. What is greater than changing water into wine? Changing wine into the Blood of Christ in the Sacrament of the Eucharist. What is greater than restoring someone to physical health? Restoring someone to spiritual health in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. What is greater than healing a paralytic? Being strengthened by the Holy Spirit in the Sacrament of Confirmation and the Sacrament of Anointing. What is greater than multiplying loaves of bread and feeding the crowds? Changing bread into the Body of Christ in the Sacrament of the Eucharist and entering into communion with Jesus. What is greater than giving sight to the physically blind? Giving sight to the spiritually blind in the Sacrament of Baptism. What is greater than restoring someone to earthly life? Being raised by Jesus to eternal life and sharing in Jesus’ Resurrection.

3. Eternal Life: The theme of eternal life is found in today’s First Reading, which is taken from the Book of Isaiah. In it, God says that he is about to create new heavens and a new earth. The earth that we know is passing away. The suffering, the weeping and tears, the pain of this life will be replaced by rejoicing and happiness in the new and heavenly Jerusalem. In us, God himself will be eternally glorified. God will rejoice in Jerusalem – the New Jerusalem – and exult in his people.

Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, you gave your Church the wondrous gifts of the Sacraments. These are the greater works that your disciples throughout the centuries would accomplish. Help me to experience the power of your Sacraments and partake of the Sacrament of the Eucharist often and the Sacrament of Reconciliation as needed.

Living the Word of God: Do I truly believe in the power of Christ’s sacraments? How do I prepare for the great Sacrament of the Eucharist? Am I in need of the Sacrament of Reconciliation?