John 4:43-54

Lectio (Reading)

Read the passage twice and get a sense of what it is saying. Pay attention to what strikes you.

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.

Meditatio (Reflecting)

Slowly read the passage again, pausing on words or phrases that stands out. Take time to consider the meaning. particularly in your life.

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

Oratio (Responding)

Read the passage again, slowly. Consider how God has spoken to you and respond back to Him. You may want to consider how this passage is asking you to act differently.

Who is this official. There is a lot of different opinions about this. Some say that it is the same Roman Centurion mentioned in Matthew. Others think that it is a different person altogether. But the point is that this is a man that comes from the Roman world, where Ceasar is called the lord and the son of God. For a Roman to even enteratin the idea that another person could be Lord is total treason against ceasar, and that belief could even cost him his life. But Jesus’ reputation, at this time, has now begun to preceed Him. And that reputation told this Roman that this Jesus was a healer that might be able to help his sick son. And as we all know, love for family always trumps political loyalties.

Our faith is always this way. It starts weak and small, like a fledgling bird, unable to leave its nest. But with experience and wisdom, that faith grows and grows, until we can soar in the clouds with You. Sometimes we have to abandon long held believes, and even challenge long-time relationships, but when you finally see the truth, that pearl of great price, you have to abandon everything else to attain it. This process is hard, and almost seems unfair at times. But it is the Lord made us this way, I believe it is because the struggle makes us stronger, and the reward at the end is all the better. So in the end, when we finally acheive the trust and belief of faith our knowledge is no longer only by empiracle evidence, but because we know the Lord Jesus in a personal way, and that knowledge is so much more certain than science. St.Augustine said, “I believe, help my unbelief.” This is the journey of faith, and the process of perfection. Let us all strive for that perfection and the completion that you desire for us all.

Contemplatio (Contemplating)

Take time to simply remain in the presence of God.

Resolutio (Resolving)

Make a resolution that will improve your life, your relationships, or your faith. Make it small and attainable, and do it.

Oh lord, help me to believe in the way that you will for me. So that I can rest in your love and friendship like all the saints that came before me. Amen.