Signs of Faith

We see a scene in John’s Gospel where Jesus has returned to Cana in Galilee from Samaria. He is gladly welcomed by the Galileans who had gone to Jerusalem for the feast and had seen Jesus’ works there. One of those who came to him was a royal official from Capernaum whose son was deathly ill. He asked Jesus to come down to Capernaum to heal his son. Jesus responded with what seems a harsh statement: “Unless you people see signs and wonders, you will not believe” (Jn 4: 48). The royal official persists in his request worried that his son would die without Jesus’ help, and Jesus, seeing the father’s faith, responds with, “You may go; your son will live” (v. 50).

Without hesitation, the royal official began his long walk home from Cana to Capernaum. He must have had mixed feelings; he believed Jesus, but he had a long time to think about it on his way home. If he’s anything like me, or any of us, we can imagine his worry was still there. We are like that, aren’t we? While he was on his way home to Capernaum, he was met by some of his slaves who were full of the exciting news that his son had recovered. To assure himself, he asked them at what time the boy had turned for the better and was told about one in the afternoon the day before. It was then that the royal official realized that that was about the time that Jesus had told him to go home, that his son would live. In this, we see that the boy was healed because of the royal official’s faith in Jesus. Only then does the healing become a sign of who Jesus really is.

This story reminds me of another father who had come to Jesus seeking healing and the role that faith played in that event. That father, whose son was described as being possessed, appeals to Jesus, saying, “If you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.” To which Jesus responded, “If you can! Everything is possible to one who has faith.” And the father cries out to Jesus, “I do believe; help my unbelief” (Mk. 9: 22-24)! This cry of the father is at once a statement of faith and an admission that our faith is far from perfect. In this, I can recognize myself as well. These two healing moments in the Gospels help us understand the paradox of faith. We believe, but we still have infinite room to grow in our faith. It is a journey, and God responds to us where we are.

In our journey of faith, we must allow ourselves to be led, for we do not always know the way. We are pilgrims heading toward the kingdom of God, but the way is often difficult. We must learn humility and conformity to the will of God. In the course of our lives, the way that leads to the kingdom is sometimes rocky, and we find the narrow path difficult to walk. There are other places in our lives where the path is smooth and covered with soft new grass. Sometimes we are scorched by the sun, and at other times we enjoy the coolness of deep shade. All along the way, our Good Shepherd leads us in the ways that are best for us, even if at times we do not think or feel so. Sometimes we feel that we are on the difficult paths for what seems to us a long time, but it is in those times, if we continue to trust in his love for us, that he gives us the graces we need to endure and it is in this that we become stronger and are made ready for even greater heights.

None of us can avoid the difficult paths. None of us can avoid the problem of suffering. Some experience these things more than others, but it is our faith, our humble, trusting faith in the love and mercy and the grace of God, that gets us through those hard times and strengthens us. We have in Jesus the Sign that gives us reason for our faith. In his Cross and Resurrection, we have all the evidence we need to believe that our Savior has come and lives with us today. We can believe as Paul teaches us: “God is faithful, and he will not let you be tested beyond your strength BUT with your testing he will also provide the way out so that you may be able to endure it” (1 Cor. 10:13). Thanks be to the Living God!