Scripture:
Reflection:
At the end of our Gospel reading for today, in which we have an account of Jesus healing the son of a royal official in Capernaum, it is written: “Now this was the second sign Jesus did when he came to Galilee from Judea.” The first sign to which this verse refers was the changing of the water into wine at the wedding in Cana.
These signs have something important in common: trust in Jesus. At the wedding in Cana, after she and Jesus have a discussion about whether Jesus should do anything about the wine running out at the wedding banquet, Mary simply says to the servants there, “Do whatever he tells you,” and she leaves the scene, trusting that Jesus will take care of it. In the Gospel reading today, the royal official asks Jesus to accompany him to his home to heal his son. But Jesus simply says, “You may go; your son will live.” And the official trusts Jesus, and indeed goes back home, to find that his son has truly been healed.
In times like these, when we find ourselves asking “Why?” or are tempted to assign blame, it may be difficult to put our trust in Jesus. But the Cross of Christ tells us that we are not alone. To trust in Jesus does not mean we simply do nothing. Instead, the Cross of Christ strengthens us to do what we can for others and enables us to comfort and be with those who have lost so much.
May we support and comfort each other with the faith of Mary and the royal official, and put our trust in Jesus.
Fr. Phil Paxton, C.P., is the local superior of the Passionist Community in Birmingham, Alabama.