February 15th Reflection by Bill Lynch

John 4:46-54 (NRSV)
Jesus heals a boy
Then he came again to Cana in Galilee where he had changed the water into wine. Now there was a royal official whose son lay ill in Capernaum. When he heard that Jesus had come from Judea to Galilee, he went and begged him to come down and heal his son, for he was at the point of death. Then Jesus said to him, "Unless you see signs and wonders you will not believe." The official said to him, "Sir, come down before my little boy dies." Jesus said to him, "Go; your son will live." The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and started on his way. As he was going down, his slaves met him and told him that his child was alive. So he asked them the hour when he began to recover, and they said to him, "Yesterday at one in the afternoon the fever left him." The father realized that this was the hour when Jesus had said to him, "Your son will live." So he himself believed, along with his whole household. Now this was the second sign that Jesus did after coming from Judea to Galilee.

Reflection
Jesus implores us that we don't need to see to believe in him as the Messiah. Here, this man requests Jesus presence. Jesus knows that this man desires something fantastic to happen before he can believe, tells the man to go back and see the healing of his son. As the man returns he gets news of his son's healing at the hour that Jesus spoke. Now the man believes and doesn't have to see.

Sometimes we wait for Jesus to touch us to bring about a change. A change that may be healing or a change in us that draws us closer to what God has planned for our lives. But we need to remember, as in this passage, that we must believe and trust in God to lead and guide us first. The touch will come. Perhaps the touch will come in some way that we don't expect it, but through believing we are touched to the core. Thanks be to God!

Prayer
Lord, I believe, may you touch me and those you give to me this day that we may all serve you boldly and gladly to your honor and glory today... tomorrow... and forever. --- Amen