Monday, May 16, 2005
CHRIST IS RISEN!
The Venerable Theodore the Sanctified
15th Vigil of Pascha: Song of Three 23-68 Apostle: Acts 6:8-7:5, 47-60 Gospel: St. John 4:46-54
46-54, especially vs. 53: "So the father knew that it was at the same hour in which Jesus
said to him, 'Your son lives.' And he himself believed, and his whole household." In commenting on this passage, St. John
Chrysostom advances an especially arresting thought: "For here He healeth the father, sick in mind, no less than the son, in
order to persuade us to give heed to Him, not by reason of His miracles, but of His teaching. For miracles are not for the
Faithful, but for the unbelieving and the grosser sort." Taking Chrysostom's thought in account, let us note how the Lord
Jesus enlarges this father's understanding in three steps, each step healing the man more deeply than the previous one.
At the beginning of the account, the son of the nobleman was "at the point of death" (vs. 47). The father did not ask, he
implored, revealing a natural fear in the face of imminent death. He swiftly tied information he already had about the Lord
Jesus to the news that Jesus was now come into Galilee. Small rural communities have rapid communication networks for
passing news. There was no reflection on the man's part. The anxious father, mobilized by hearing that Jesus was near,
"went to Him and implored Him to come down and heal his son" (vs. 47).
Consider the father's situation when he left for Cana. Many remedies had proven useless. His child was dying (vs. 47),
and so the loving parent was open to any solution. Normal cures had failed. Since Jesus had been in Capernaum with His
family and His disciples after His first sign, the nobleman likely knew about Him (Jn. 2:12). More so, reports existed of
Jesus' effective spiritual power (vss. 45,47), and therein the father perceived a solution. Now, Jesus was nearby in Cana
(vs. 46) where He had supplied wine in abundance merely by commands (Jn. 2:7-9).
In addition, there had been other signs while the Lord Jesus was in Jerusalem (Jn. 2:23). Many Galileans already believed
the Lord was a Prophet (Jn. 4:44,45). Word was out. As a court official, the nobleman was in close touch with events in
the Capital. At the least this father exhibited a "try-anything," pragmatic form of "faith." His spiritual state at this point
was based on objective action and physical presence. He could not imagine "long distance" healing. He wanted Jesus in
Capernaum - at the place where the boy lay dying (Jn. 4:47).
Next observe how the Lord began to heal the father. First, He chastened him, but He did so in general terms, for in
responding to the father, the Lord framed His comments about signs and wonders to include all who are spiritually
dependent on tangible evidence. Still, in times of real need there is openness to change, so the official spoke to Jesus,
showing high respect, even calling Him "Kyrie," "Lord" or "Sir" (vs. 49). Thus the father pressed his need, not defending
his shallow faith, but taking one more step toward deeper faith. Note that his trust grew when the Lord said: "Go, Thy son
lives." The father obeyed (vs. 50). Be sure to observe what St. John adds: "the man believed the word that Jesus spoke"
(vs. 50). Spiritually, the nobleman had begun to trust in the unseen, spiritual powers lodged in Jesus' spoken words.
The third phase of the nobleman's healing came when he realized that his son's health had improved "at the same hour in
which Jesus" had declared the boy well (vs. 53). A third advance occurred in his faith development. The father moved
from trust in the Lord's words to trust in the Lord Himself, in His Person. The nobleman became one of the Faithful, a
believer, a Christian, a disciple of Christ, and more! He became a man of contagious faith. He drew his entire household
into the Church (vs. 53). May God heal each of us with such faith!
O Master, Who lovest mankind, grant me the healing of my soul and body, a faith invincible, a love unfeigned, unto the
fulfilling of wisdom, and growth in Thy divine grace.