Monday March 27
The Galileans had once rejected Jesus and his message, belittling him as mere carpenter’s son. Jesus then made the famous remark that no prophet was honored in his own country and among his own people. They had even tried to throw him down a cliff for the remark (Lk 4:14-30).
However, this time around, they seem to have had a change of heart. They had heard about and even witnessed in Jerusalem all the miraculous things Jesus had done. It was not the message that interested them, but the extraordinary signs and wonders he did. Hence, when the official begged him to heal his son, Jesus could not but remark wistfully: “Unless you see signs and wonders, you will not believe!” Yet, Jesus would not hold back his favors just because their faith lacked depth. But he clearly longed for greater faith from them.
How deep is your faith? Is it dependent on the miraculous in your life? Or, is it deep enough to let God do what He wills with you?
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In the early chapters of the Gospel of John we find three emblematic figures: Nicodemus, who embodies the official Judaism and who seeks to deepen it; the woman of Samaria, the symbol of a heterodox community that believes in Jesus because he has told me everything I have done; and finally, the royal official, perhaps a pagan centurion in the parallel accounts of Matthew and Luke who represents pure faith which does not ask for evidence or signs because it is only based on the word of Christ. Of which of these three faces do I identify myself? Which of these three stages do I find my life of faith now?