Jesus reveals the power of the divinely spoken word

Father Perry D. Leiker, pastor.

A reflection on the daily readings, for Monday of the Fourth Week of Lent, by Father Perry.

By Father Perry D. Leiker, pastor

+ “Now this was the second sign,” Jesus spoke the words. “You may go, your son will live.”

And these words must have been comforting and perplexing at the very same time.

Could Jesus actually heal someone from a distance without even being in the presence of that person?

Could spoken words in one locale actually save the life of a deathly ill person somewhere else.

This, indeed, was a very great sign of just who Jesus was and what Jesus could do.

This was, indeed, his second sign, and an impressive one it was.

All was confirmed when that royal official did return home, and his slaves confirmed that his son was OK.

And when that official asked at what time his son had gotten better, they reported about “one in the afternoon.”

Yes, indeed!

Seven words spoken here healed a boy over there — somewhere else.

The power of Jesus’ words and actions confirmed again and again that the Christ indeed had come, and was living among the people, even though Jesus even remarked that, “a prophet has no honor in his native place.”

+ Isaiah, speaking the word of the Lord, also uttered words of great significance: the Lord God speaking of creating a new heaven and a new earth.

Imagine —

“No longer shall the sound of weeping be heard there,
or the sound of crying;
No longer shall there be in it
an infant who lives but a few days,
nor anyone who does not live a full lifetime;
One who dies at a hundred years shall be considered a youth, and one who falls short of a hundred shall be thought accursed.”

There is promise everywhere.

God’s goodness fills the lives of all who hear his voice.

There is a deep and abiding confidence and trust echoed by the psalmist’s words —

“I will praise you Lord, for you have rescued me.”