SERMON/HOMILY FOR MONDAY OF THE 4TH WEEK OF LENT 11TH MARCH 2024

SERMON/HOMILY FOR MONDAY OF THE 4TH WEEK OF LENT 11TH MARCH 2024

Isaiah 65:17-21; Ps.30; John 4:43-54

Trust in God’s Word

A child relies so much on the words of the father to guide him as he grows up. A responsible child is that child who takes seriously the words of the father and abide by them. As Christians, we are children of God and God is our Father. We may find it very easy to accept or claim this with our lips but where the challenge often comes is in living as actual children of God.

In the gospel reading of today, an official met Jesus for the sake of the son who was at the point of death. He was convinced that Jesus could heal the son and so he begged that Jesus should follow him home. His faith in Jesus was so firm that even when Jesus refused to follow him home, he still believed in the words of Jesus that the son was healed.

It is only a child that will act as the official acted. Children absolutely trust the words of the elders that they are familiar with. If a child ever doubts the words of an elder, it is because he/she has not come to terms with that elder. Amidst the rejection of Jesus amongst his own people, this official was able to come to terms with Jesus.

We may need to ask ourselves today how well we too have come to terms with Jesus and how much do we rely on His Word. Often times, when we come to hear from Jesus, we also want to determine what Jesus will say to us. If he is not saying what we want to hear, we take it that he has not spoken at all. In such situation, our focus is no longer on Jesus but on ourselves.

The official hoped to hear Jesus say to him: “I will follow you home”, but when Jesus said otherwise, he still believed. When we learn to trust and obey the Word of God, we become satisfied and nourished in ways far beyond our expectation. God is ever ready to take us on a tour of a personal transfiguration, but first he want us to trust him with the steering of the vehicle. Remember, those who put everything in God’s hand will always see God’s hands in everything.