First reading Isaiah 65:17-21
Be glad and rejoice for ever at what I am creating
Responsorial Psalm 29(30):2,4-6,11-13
I will praise you, Lord, for you have rescued me.
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.
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.
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.
I will praise you, Lord, for you have rescued me.
Gospel John 4:43-54
Go home: your son will live
Believing in Jesus
In today’s gospel, we see the contrast between the lack of faith that Jesus pointed out in the people of his hometown and the court official’s act of faith in Jesus. He came to Jesus not with the attitude of testing Him but with a father’s love and concern for his child. The official humbly looked to Jesus for his child’s needs and put his trust completely in Jesus’ word.
In life, we also carry in our hearts the various needs of the people around us, especially those of our loved ones. Like the official’s child who was at the point of death, there are times when we see how great and urgent the needs of others are. In such moments, let us not lose hope. Instead, we come and bring the needs of those we care for to Jesus in prayer. Following the official’s example, let us believe in Jesus and continue to walk life with faith in life. Seeing our trust in Jesus, may others come to believe in Him also.
Reflective question:
Whose needs am I called to bring to Jesus in faith?
Acknowledgment: Reflections are based on “Prayer for Living: The Word of God for Daily Prayer Year C” by Sr Maria Jose FMVD.