PRAYING FOR THE SPIRITUALLY SICK - 03/28/22 (Monday of the 4th Week of Lent)

John 4:48-50,53

48 Jesus therefore said to him, "Unless you see signs and wonders you will not believe." 49 The official said to him, "Sir, come down before my child dies." 50 Jesus said to him, "Go; your son will live." The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and went his way. 

53 The father knew that was the hour when Jesus had said to him, "Your son will live"; and he himself believed, and all his household.

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Blessed Monday! It is truly difficult when we know some of our friends, and even our family members, who are spiritually sick. Some of our loved ones may even be endangering their souls to eternal death because of their sins. In today's gospel reading, the physical illness of the official's child represents the spiritual illnesses of the soul of a person due to sin. But, we should not lose hope. Jesus performs signs and wonders to move people and deepen their faith in Him. 

The official had the confidence to go to Jesus after recognizing the signs that our Lord performed before in Cana. This was the miracle when He transformed the water into wine. In the same way, God shows many miracles in the lives of other people, including people we know. Throughout the history of the Church, there were numerous saints who had very sinful lifestyles but they were transformed by the mercy of God. Because of their humility, our Lord exalted them to the highest peak of holiness, and they're now glorifying God in heaven. We can even witness the lives of Catholics who had transformation when they devoted themselves to Jesus and the teachings of the Church. 

These examples should give us hope that nothing is impossible with God, even the conversion of the most hardened sinners. Just like the official, if we want to deepen our faith in Jesus, we should pray to our Lord for the healing, not just physical but also spiritual healing, of our loved ones. We should have confidence that as we pray for conversion of people we know, God will grant them the gift of salvation. In the gospel, the healing of the child took place immediately. It is important to understand that we should also trust the timing and providence of God. For some, it take a long time, even years, before people repent of their sins. 

When the official discovered that the healing of his child took place, he and his own family believed in Jesus. Because God is merciful, His graces are not just limited to people whom we pray for. We will also receive graces from God for us to be more united to Him, and our prayers can also be applied to other people in accordance to God's will. When we see our loved ones who are spiritually sick, what do we do? Do we just neglect them? Or, do we pray to Jesus for their conversion? May we be inspired to always seek the mercy of Christ because if we truly believe in Him, we will desire that more souls will enter heaven. In heaven, we will experience eternal happiness with God and sufferings do not exist here. Our Lord will always help us here on earth if we have confidence in His graces. 

Amen +

 

Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, be with us always until the hour of our death. Amen. +

 

May the Lord + bless us, protect us from all evil and bring us to everlasting life. Amen. +  

Reflection by: Dominic