The Catholic Calendar for Tuesday, March 8, 2005
Tuesday of the Fourth Week of Lent
St. John of God

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Ezeckiel 47:1-9,12
Psalm 46:2-3,5-6,8-9
John 5:1-3,5-16

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

In today's Gospel of John we hear about a royal official who comes to Jesus asking Him to restore the health of his son who was near death. Jesus replies, "Unless you people see signs and wonders, you do not believe."

Who does Jesus group together as "you people?" Is it just the pagans, the obstinate -- could it be someone like me?

It is a question that all of us should consider because our belief in God is constantly being challenged by the extraordinary pressures of our everyday lives. And yet, we don't normally require daily signs and wonders from God, yet believe almost out of habit. Having said that, some might consider "believing out of habit" a derogatory thing and yet it actually might be that we believe out of a habit that comes from having the gift of faith and allowing that gift to be operative in our lives.

How good it would be for us to reflect on the gift of faith that we first received in Baptism -- and then meditate on how well we have taken the necessary measures to strengthen and keep our faith alive. If we haven't done as well as we could, let us remember that like the royal official in today's Gospel story, we must profess our neediness to the Lord and ask for His help. Like him, we will not be ridiculed and pushed aside, but receive what seeking and asking desires: a Divine response.

- Don Claunch, SFO
(dlclaunch at bresnan dot net)

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posted by joachim at 4:13 AM