Psalms 41, 52 * 44; Genesis 14:(1-7)8-24; Hebrews 8:1-13; John 4:43-54Jesus heals the son of a "royal official from Capernaum" in today's reading from John. Jesus is up in Cana of Galilee when this official approaches him in great distress about his ill child. Jesus says the child is healed and the official believes and starts home. What we can miss in this story is the distance between the actors in this account. Carpernaum and Cana were approximately a three day trip apart, making the official's faith, and this feat of healing, all that much more remarkable.
So many people can feel alone in life, whether they are surrounded by people or truly alone. Having and making close connections with people, although vital and important for our health, can also be difficult. When we feel like there is no one in the world who understands us, or is near to us to help us through a particularly challenging time in our life, we must always remember the nearness of God to each and every one of us. That love God has for us, represented in the account of Jesus and the royal official, is a comfort to us in difficult times. But more than a comfort, it is a palpable reality that can make the most difficult-seeming times in our lives, bearable.
jfd+
Copyright 2011, The Rev. John F. Dwyer. All Rights Reserved.
Photo: StoneArch Bridge, 2011, jfd+
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