Breaking the Word

4^th week in Lent, Tuesday – 29^th March 2022 — Gospel: Jn 5,1-3a.5-16

Sign of Desert Wandering

The third of John’s “signs” is that of Jesus healing a man who had been crippled for thirty-eight years. On the one hand, considering the average life expectancy at that time, this was literally a lifetime of suffering. On the other hand, thirty-eight years is significant because that is how long unfaithful Israelites wandered in the wilderness of Paran (Num 13-14). It is because of their lack of faith in God, God punished them not to enter the promised land. Moses wrote: “And the time from our leaving Kadesh-barnea until we crossed the brook Zered was thirty-eight years, until the entire generation, that is, the men of war, had perished from the camp, as the Lord had sworn to them” (Deut 2,14). Here the paralytic could symbolize “Israel”, who wandered in the desert. As he was sitting near a pool of healing water and was unable to access it, for thirty-eight years, which means he was faithless or “wandering in the desert.” The pool named Bethesda means “house of mercy” or “house of grace”. Thus, the crippled man who was in need of mercy and grace, was away from the pool. He needed Jesus to extend mercy and grace to him in order to restore him to life.

4^th week in Lent, Monday – 28^th March 2022 — Gospel: Jn 4,43-54

Believing in the Promises

The royal official in this story, probably, went to Jesus as a last resort, as his son was not merely ill but at the point of death. He must have explored and exhausted all other avenues, until he heard about Jesus’ healing ministry. He was single minded in his purpose and will let nothing deter him. However, on approaching Jesus and inviting Him to his house, the royal official got a blank instruction, “You may go; your son will live.” Although he must have been disappointed like Naaman before prophet Elisha, the official believed in Jesus’ words and returned back home. His persevering hope and unwavering faith gains for him and his family, not only his son’s life but also the gift of faith. In counter checking with his servants about the news of the boy’s return to health and the exact hour, the royal official affirms more firmly his blind belief in Jesus’ words and the fulfillment of the promise of healing. Not for sure, whether Jesus wished to test this royal official of his blind faith in his promises by asking him to go home. However, the father’s faith in Jesus saved his son: “The man believed what Jesus said to him.”