THE PROPHETIC MOMENT

Meditation for Monday of the 4^th Week of Lent

(Is 65:17-21; Jn 4:43-54)

 “Thus says the Lord: Behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; and the former things shall not be remembered or come to mind.” The prophet announces a FUTURE, which shall be completely new and unlike the former days. Here, there shall be eternal gladness and rejoicing; God shall take pleasure in the new Jerusalem and her people. At that time, there shall be no weeping or the cry of distress, no premature death. “They shall build houses and inhabit them; they shall plant vineyards and eat their fruit.” How do we journey into this era of bliss?

The Gospel narrates how Jesus was warmly welcomed by the Galileans after seeing the great works He performed. Going down to Capernaum, an official whose son was ill approached and begged Him to come down and heal the boy, who was at the point of death. The official was in distress, and anxiously imploring Jesus to act quickly before his son dies...The mood here was tensed! It was the exact opposite of what Isaiah prophesied. Jesus said to the man, “unless you see signs and wonders you will not believe.” He was referring to a faith that goes beyond one’s benefits through miracles or answered prayers. In other words, there is need for faith to arrest the situation at hand, and to unlock the future bliss the prophet announced.

Jesus said to the official, “Go; your son will live.” While the man wanted Jesus to come down to his house, he accepted the new twist, and believe in the words that Jesus spoke, went his way...Trusting someone’s words means TRUSTING IN the person. His steps home were the practical ‘steps’ he took to express his trust in Jesus Christ. And it worked for him. While still on the way, he got the good news that his son has been restored. The premature death was cancelled, tears were wiped off and distress resolved. Rejoicing and gladness resounded in the household...It was like the prophetic moment of Isaiah. The official’s faith was strengthened; “And he believed, and his entire household.”

No more shall he look for signs before believing! In Jesus is the fulfilment of the prophetic moment that assures eternal gladness and rejoicing. And faith in Jesus assures us now of this future bliss; a faith that trusts in the person of Jesus walks with the assurance that tears shall be wiped away, sickness shall be healed, fruitfulness shall increase, distress shall be overcome, death shall be overcome, and rejoicing and gladness shall ever be on our lips! This is the faith that unlocks for us now the grace of the prophetic moment in Christ Jesus. Amen.

Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R
Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church,
Tedi-Muwo, Lagos.
Monday March 15^th, 2021.
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