THE JOY OF NEW LIFE COMES THROUGH FAITH IN CHRIST AT HIS WORD

20160307 THE JOY OF NEW LIFE COMES THROUGH FAITH IN CHRIST AT HIS WORD

Readings at Mass

Liturgical Colour: Violet.

First reading

Isaiah 65:17-21 ©

Thus says the Lord: Now I create new heavens and a new earth, and the past will not be remembered, and will come no more to men’s minds. Be glad and rejoice for ever and ever for what I am creating, because I now create Jerusalem ‘Joy’ and her people ‘Gladness.’ I shall rejoice over Jerusalem and exult in my people. No more will the sound of weeping or the sound of cries be heard in her; in her, no more will be found the infant living a few days only, or the old man not living to the end of his days. To die at the age of a hundred will be dying young; not to live to be a hundred will be the sign of a curse. They will build houses and inhabit them, plant vineyards and eat their fruit.

Responsorial Psalm

Psalm 29:2,4-6,11-13 ©

I will praise you, Lord, you have rescued me.

I will praise you, Lord, you have rescued me

  and have not let my enemies rejoice over me.

O Lord, you have raised my soul from the dead,

  restored me to life from those who sink into the grave.

I will praise you, Lord, you have rescued me.

Sing psalms to the Lord, you who love him,

  give thanks to his holy name.

His anger lasts a moment; his favour all through life.

  At night there are tears, but joy comes with dawn.

I will praise you, Lord, you have rescued me.

The Lord listened and had pity.

  The Lord came to my help.

For me you have changed my mourning into dancing:

  O Lord my God, I will thank you for ever.

I will praise you, Lord, you have rescued me.

Gospel Acclamation

cf.Ps129:5,7

Praise and honour to you, Lord Jesus!

My soul is waiting for the Lord,

I count on his word,

because with the Lord there is mercy

and fullness of redemption.

Praise and honour to you, Lord Jesus!

Or	cf.Amos5:14

Praise and honour to you, Lord Jesus!

Seek good and not evil so that you may live,

and that the Lord God of hosts may really be with you.

Praise and honour to you, Lord Jesus!

Gospel

John 4:43-54 ©

Jesus left Samaria for Galilee. He himself had declared that there is no respect for a prophet in his own country, but on his arrival the Galileans received him well, having seen all that he had done at Jerusalem during the festival which they too had attended.

  He went again to Cana in Galilee, where he had changed the water into wine. Now there was a court official there whose son was ill at Capernaum and, hearing that Jesus had arrived in Galilee from Judaea, he went and asked him to come and cure his son as he was at the point of death. Jesus said, ‘So you will not believe unless you see signs and portents!’ ‘Sir,’ answered the official ‘come down before my child dies.’ ‘Go home,’ said Jesus ‘your son will live.’ The man believed what Jesus had said and started on his way; and while he was still on the journey back his servants met him with the news that his boy was alive. He asked them when the boy had begun to recover. ‘The fever left him yesterday’ they said ‘at the seventh hour.’ The father realised that this was exactly the time when Jesus had said, ‘Your son will live’; and he and all his household believed.

  This was the second sign given by Jesus, on his return from Judaea to Galilee.

THE JOY OF NEW LIFE COMES THROUGH FAITH IN CHRIST AT HIS WORD

SCRIPTURE READINGS: Isa 65:17-21; Ps 30: 2 & 4, 5-6, 11-12a, 13b; Jn 4:43-54

We have just completed the first part of the season of Lent and entered into the second part.  Whereas the first part of Lent focused on the themes of spiritual life, the second part directs our attention to Christ’s passion, death and resurrection.   Hence, the theme of faith, especially in Jesus as the Messiah and His power to give life in anticipation of His passion and resurrection, is dominant during the next three weeks of Lent.

In the first reading, Isaiah prophesied the rebuilding of Jerusalem and the restoration of Israel.  The word that is used is “create.”  This reconstruction is portrayed in the context of the creation of a new heaven and a new earth.  Firstly, there will be no more untimely deaths.  Secondly, there will also be peace, security and success.  Indeed, the plan of God is more than just a reconstruction but a total re-creation.  Yes, it is His desire to “create Jerusalem to be a joy and its people to be a delight.”  This final prophecy of Isaiah certainly invites us to anticipate the joys of Easter, when new life is promised to us.

This is reaffirmed in today’s gospel message when St John recorded for us the second sign or mighty work of Jesus.  By healing the son of the official, Jesus demonstrated that He is the healer and the one who gives life.  This was the assurance of Jesus when He told the official, “Go home, your son will live.”  We too can look to Jesus for new life.  He has the power to make all things new for us, even in apparent hopeless situation.

However, for this new creation and new life to be a reality, we need to strengthen our relationship with the Lord.  This relationship with Jesus will determine the depth of our faith in Him.  What is faith?  Faith is to believe in Jesus.  It is very significant that the gospel story begins with Jesus leaving Samaria, where, we are told, “many of the Samaritans in that town believed in Jesus.” (Jn 4:39).  In contrast, when He arrived in Galilee, “the Galileans received him well, having seen all that he had done at Jerusalem during the festival…”  It is important to note that whereas the Samaritans believed in Jesus, the Jews in Galilee only welcomed Him, and only because they had seen His miracles.  Nothing is said about their believing.  There is a world of difference between giving Jesus a warm reception and having faith in Him.

In so doing, St John is highlighting the faith of the non-Jews, who showed greater faith in Jesus, than His fellowmen.  The Samaritans and the government official who were non-Jews, believed on Jesus’ word alone, without witnessing a miracle.  Whilst it is true that this was one instance when His own countryman did not reject Him, yet the reception given to Him based on His works of wonders did not tantamount to faith in Him.  Hence, He rebuked the crowd more than the official when He said, “So you will not believe unless you see signs and portents!”  Indeed, genuine faith in Jesus cannot be based on miracles but on His word and promises.  In the following two sequences, in the cure of the paralytic (5:1-47) and the multiplication of loaves (6:1-15), we see how miracles did not produce faith but rejection.

Hence, we need to reflect on the kind of relationship we have with Jesus.  Is our relationship with Jesus dependent on miracles and getting what we want from Him, or is it dependent on our faith in Him as the Christ?  Do we simply think well of Jesus, or do we confess from our hearts that He is the Christ?  During this season of Lent, are we simply welcoming Jesus, or do we have faith in Him? Today, we are called to imitate the faith of the pagan official.  What kind of faith did the official have? 

Firstly, it was a humble and courageous faith.  As a royal official, he swallowed his pride and traveled a long distance of twenty miles from Capernaum to see Jesus, someone who had no status except that of a carpenter in Nazareth. He was in need and was not bothered about what people would say.  Faith cannot survive so long as there is pride and fear of losing one’s reputation in life.  He was not afraid of risking his reputation by coming to Jesus for help.

Secondly, we are told that he had a persevering and growing faith.  He was not easily discouraged.  Even when he was reprimanded for seeking signs and wonders, he did not take offence.  He did not give up in despair.  Instead, he recognized that his faith needed to grow.   His faith, like many of us, is an imperfect faith.  Quite often, we too expect God to work miracles in our lives, according to how we want it to happen.  We do not trust that somehow Jesus would solve the problems we have in His own time and in His own way.  What is required is faith and trust in His wisdom.  We must not seek for signs but simply rely on His words.  We must carry on with our lives and trust that Jesus will, in His time, come to our help.  Indeed, the psalmist invites us to place our total trust in God for he is our refuge.

Hence, when Jesus declined to go back with him to heal the child personally, he accepted in faith the assurance of Jesus’ words, “Go, your son will live.” It must have been very hard for him to turn away and walk twenty miles home without Jesus, save for these words of assurance.  Truly, the height of faith is a trusting faith.  He was not afraid that he might return home to find that his son was not cured, thus making him a laughing stock with his people.  Indeed, we read “while he was still on the journey back his servants met him with the news that his boy was alive.”  Thus, it is clear that the royal official believed in Jesus even before he knew the miracle was performed.  The miracle only reinforced his faith in Jesus.  It is the essence of faith that we must believe; that whatever Jesus says or promises us, is as good as true.

Finally, we are told “he and all his household believed” in Jesus.  It was certainly not easy for him, a pagan, to come to accept Jesus as the Messiah, the anointed One of God, and bring others to faith.  Indeed, a man of faith will generate faith among others.  This was true for the Samaritan woman and the royal official. Conversion is therefore the consequence of encountering Jesus in person and surrendering ourselves in faith to Him.  Only this kind of faith can bring about new life.  Let us pray for this personal experience of Jesus as our Messiah so that we can tell people what we have heard and seen.

Written by The Most Rev William Goh Roman Catholic Archbishop of Singapore © All Rights Reserved