The Whole House
Monday of the Fourth Week of Lent
Read this Gospel passage aloud to the family
John 4:43-54 - At that time Jesus left [Samaria] for Galilee. For Jesus himself testified that a prophet has no honor in his native place. When he came into Galilee, the Galileans welcomed him, since they had seen all he had done in Jerusalem at the feast; for they themselves had gone to the feast. Then he returned to Cana in Galilee, where he had made the water wine. Now there was a royal official whose son was ill in Capernaum. When he heard that Jesus had arrived in Galilee from Judea, he went to him and asked him to come down and heal his son, who was near death. Jesus said to him, “Unless you people see signs and wonders, you will not believe.” The royal official said to him, “Sir, come down before my child dies.” Jesus said to him, “You may go; your son will live.” The man believed what Jesus said to him and left. While the man was on his way back, his slaves met him and told him that his boy would live. He asked them when he began to recover. They told him, “The fever left him yesterday, about one in the afternoon.” The father realized that just at that time Jesus had said to him, “Your son will live,” and he and his whole household came to believe. Now this was the second sign Jesus did when he came to Galilee from Judea.
(Parent) Reread this part a few times aloud
“The man believed what Jesus said to him and left.”
(Parent) Read this meditation aloud to the family
The man who comes to Jesus (actually he travels to see Jesus) has a plan. He wants Jesus to help him, so he goes directly to Jesus to ask Him “to come down and heal his son.” But Jesus doesn’t follow this man’s plans. Jesus doesn’t go anywhere. He never sees the boy, touches him, or prays over him— none of that. He just says, “You may go; your son will live.” That was not the man’s plan! He could have left full of doubt, thinking that since Jesus didn’t come with him, his son would now surely die.
But the Gospel says that “the man believed what Jesus said to him and left.” And, of course, it happened just as Jesus said. Jesus healed the son more quickly and easily than the man ever imagined in his plan. Jesus doesn’t ask for our help or ideas when answering our prayers. He just wants our faith. We must learn to do what God is asking, even if we don’t understand. His plans are always better than ours. Ask God in prayer to help us to be less concerned with our plans and desires, and instead to hope in His plan. Who knows, His plan might lead to a miracle.
As a family, pray a portion of the Rosary together (very short if children are young) reflecting on the Scripture passage above. (Optional: allow a brief time for discussion or questions from children concerning their thoughts and prayer.)
Reminder for Parents: Pier is just meant to be a jumping off point. The real goal is that you pray & eventually use the fruits of your personal prayer as the content of your family’s prayer. Duc in altum.
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