Now there was a royal official whose son was ill in Capernaum. When
he heard that Jesus had arrived in Galilee from Judea, he went to
him and asked him to come down and heal his son, who was near
death. Jesus said to him, “Unless you people see signs and wonders,
you will not believe.” John 4:46–48
Jesus did end up healing the royal official’s son. And when the
royal official returned to discover his son healed, we are told
that “he and his whole household came to believe.” Some came to
believe in Jesus only after He performed miracles. There are two
lessons we should take from this.
First of all, the fact that Jesus performed miracles is a testimony
to Who He is. He is a God of abundant mercy. As God, Jesus could
have expected faith from those to whom He ministered without
offering them the “proof” of signs and wonders. This is because
true faith is not based upon external evidence, such as seeing
miracles; rather, authentic faith is based upon an interior
revelation from God by which He communicates His very self to us
and we believe. Therefore, the fact that Jesus did signs and
wonders shows just how merciful He is. He offered these miracles,
not because anyone deserved them but simply because of His abundant
generosity to help spark faith in the lives of those who found it
hard to believe through the interior gift of faith alone.
With that said, it’s important to understand that we should work to
develop our faith without relying upon external signs. Imagine, for
example, if Jesus would have never performed any miracles. How many
would have come to believe in Him? Perhaps very few. But there
would have been some who came to believe, and those who did would
have had a faith that was exceptionally deep and authentic.
Imagine, for example, if this royal official did not receive a
miracle for his son but, nonetheless, chose to believe in Jesus
anyway through the transforming interior gift of faith.
In each one of our lives, it is essential that we work to develop
our faith, even if God doesn’t seem to act in powerful and evident
ways. In fact, the deepest form of faith is born in our lives when
we choose to love God and serve Him, even when things are very
difficult. Faith in the midst of difficulty is a sign of very
authentic faith.
Reflect, today, upon the depth of your own faith. When life is
hard, do you love God and serve Him anyway? Even if He doesn’t
remove the crosses you carry? Seek to have true faith at all times
and in every circumstance and you will be amazed at how real and
sustaining your faith becomes.
My merciful Jesus, Your love for us is beyond what we will ever
fathom. Your generosity is truly great. Help me to believe in You
and to embrace Your holy will both in good times and in difficult
ones. Help me, especially, to be open to the gift of faith, even
when Your presence and action in my life seems silent. May those
moments, dear Lord, be moments of true interior transformation and
grace. Jesus, I trust in You.
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Featured images above: Christ and the Centurion By Paolo
Veronese, Wikimedia Commons
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