A NEW LIFE IN FAITH
Meditation
for Monday of the 4th Week of Lent
(Is 65:17-21; Lk 4:43-54)
The message from the prophet Isaiah makes a good start for the week. The Lord says, “Behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; and the former things shall not be remembered or come into mind” (Is 65:17). Within this new life, they prophet says, everyone shall live out the fullness of his days, and enjoy the fruits of his labour.
This prophetic message finds its living fulfilment in the encounter
between Jesus and the official. The man believed in the power of Jesus to heal
his son, who was at the point of death. This man was burdened and heartbroken,
almost at the point of hopelessness. He was so desperately in need of solution
that he cornered Jesus along the road in Galilee. In the face of such
overwhelming problems, a new day quickly ages out, and we look forward in hope
to another day in which the problems are no more!
And the official looked up to Jesus for this new dawn; a
new life for his son. However, at this point his faith was suffocated with
problems. His desire for miracle was stronger than his love for Jesus. Therefore,
Jesus said to him, “Unless you see signs and wonders you will not believe.” But
the man’s immediate response shows where his heart was attached to. He said, “Sir,
come down before my child dies.” Then Jesus said to him, “Go; your son will
live.” The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and went home in hope
of a new life for his son.
After the son got well, this official and his household
believed. This is a more purified faith. His faith at this time is no more choked
by problems nor conditioned by miracles. He believed in Jesus Himself. Such a
faith is filled with love and joy. This is the faith that uplifts the heart,
even above every problem. It is within this Christ-centered faith that the
prophetic message of Isaiah is fulfilled. From there, a new spring of life
gushes forth. “So for anyone who is in Christ, there is a new creation: the old
order is gone and a new life is there to see” (2 Cor 5:17). Then, we shall live
out the fullness of our live at each moment, and enjoy the fruit of our
labours. Amen.
Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R
Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church,
Tedi-Muwo, Ojo, Lagos.
Monday March 28th, 2022.
