Despite our
challenges world-wide with COVID-19 this past year, everyone can probably agree
that modern medicine has changed life as we know it. Real progress has been made in dealing with
major diseases, and research continues to promote health and longevity on many
levels. And yet death is inevitable, and
modern medicine is helpless once a person has died.
Through His
miracles Jesus wanted to show He had power not only over human sickness but
over death itself. A good example is the
Gospel story of the royal official who showed a faith that at first was simply
a belief that Jesus had extraordinary healing powers, that Jesus was some sort
of super-physician. As he anxiously encountered Jesus in Cana, his
faith deepened and he cried out to Jesus:
"Sir, come down before my child dies."
I think it’s easy to imagine the official’s anguish for his child’s life
– and the strong faith it took for him to head home after Jesus assured him
that his son would live! When he found out on his way home that his
child was alive and well, he came to full faith in Jesus as the
"life-giver"…and his whole household joined in his belief. (John
4:43-54)
This
complete faith is the kind of faith we are called to cultivate through our
prayer, penance and almsgiving. Jesus isn’t
concerned merely with our temporal well-being—although do doubt it’s important—but
He especially wishes to one day share with us His own resurrection from the
dead and happiness in heaven. That’s
"Life" with a capital "L" – more than modern medicine can
ever hope for!
We’ve completed
3 weeks of Lent already, and we confidently look forward to celebrating Easter
and Jesus’ resurrection from the dead. As disciples we’ve pondered this same message
in years past, but this year our faith has been tested by the pandemic, world
violence, an unstable economy, challenging racial questions – and perhaps even
some aches and pains of our own… As we figuratively "head home" to
family and friends, Jesus invites us to join the royal official in a deeper
faith in His Life and Resurrection.
Truly God will create the "new heavens and a
new earth"
mentioned in Isaiah (Isaiah 65:17-21); complete with rejoicing and happiness –
and health – that lasts!
In the words
of Psalm 30: "Lord,
I put my trust in you; I shall be glad and rejoice in your mercy…"
(Psalm 30:2-13)
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