Word to the Wise
Monday, March 3, 2008 - Monday in the Fourth Week of Lent [St. Katharine Drexel]
[Isaiah 65:17-21 and John 4:43-54]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.
In an election year, promises flow like water. But they flow away just as quickly after the election is over! One gets to the point where it is difficult to take the word of an elected public official for anything! We say, "Actions speak louder than words!" In the incident in today's gospel scripture, the reverse is true to some extent. The royal official is desperate to get help for his sick child. Jesus tests the man's faith (just as he does the Syro-Phoenician woman in one of the other gospels) by a comment about signs and wonders being the only thing that will convince. The father shows that it is not a matter of signs and wonders but simply caring for the child. Then Jesus puts the man's faith to the ultimate test by telling him his son will live, all the father has to do is go home! This is the important moment! The father could have said, "What's the use of these words? You can't do anything if you don't come to my child!" Instead the gospel tells us, "The man believed what Jesus said to him and left." He learns when he gets home that his son started getting better at the very moment Jesus said the words, "Your son will live." The result is that the father and all his household "came to believe." Again we see the various stages of faith. There is the initial contact with Jesus which requires actual dialogue. Then there is the initial acceptance which upon experiencing its power turns into full faith for the person and all those associated with him. Remember the same process with the Samaritan woman? Belief in Jesus' word brings about the signs and wonders and not the other way around. Remember, too, what Jesus says to Thomas, "Blessed are they who have not seen but have believed." For our secular and empirical age, this faith seems naive and unscientific. Why should we accept the word of a first century Jewish preacher? Isn't it all, as the popular atheistic author, Philip Pullman, says in his fantasy: HIS DARK MATERIALS (which includes "The Golden Compass"), "an attractive illusion?" Not for that royal official, and not for millions of believers who will never read Mr. Pullman's books. It won't matter, their faith is stronger than his own fantastic "attractive illusion" That faith will heal where his fantasy will only entertain for the moments it is read and disappears from the bookstore shelves to be replaced by others who think they know better than Christ. I think I'll take Jesus' word and not Mr. Pullman's or anyone else like him. AMEN
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