Reflect today on your faith and trust in God

Jesus said to him, "Unless you see signs and wonders, you won't believe it." The royal official said to him, "Sir, get off before my son dies." Jesus said to him: “You can go; your son will live. "John 4: 48–50

In fact, the boy lives and the royal official is overjoyed when he returns home to find that his son has been healed. This healing took place at the same time that Jesus said he would be healed.

An interesting thing to note about this passage is the contrast of Jesus' words. At first it almost seems that Jesus is angry when he says: "Unless you see signs and wonders, you won't believe it." But then he immediately heals the boy by saying to the man, "Your son will live." Why this apparent contrast in Jesus' words and actions?

We must note that Jesus' initial words are not so much a criticism; rather, they are simply words of truth. He is aware that many people lack faith or are at least weak in faith. He is also aware of the fact that sometimes "signs and wonders" are beneficial to people in order to help them believe. Although this need to see "signs and wonders" is far from ideal, Jesus works on it. Use this desire for a miracle as a way to offer faith.

What is important to understand is that Jesus' ultimate goal was not physical healing, even though this was an act of great love; rather, his ultimate goal was to increase this father's faith by offering him the gift of healing for his son. This is important to understand why everything we experience in the life of our Lord will have a goal of deepening our faith. Sometimes this takes the form of "signs and wonders" while other times it can be his presence of support in the midst of a trial without any visible sign or wonder. The goal we have to fight for is faith, allowing whatever our Lord does in our life to become the source of the increase in our faith.

Reflect today on your level of faith and trust. And work to discern God's actions in your life so that those actions produce greater faith. Hold on to him, believe that he loves you, know that he has the answer you need and look for it in all things. He will never disappoint you.

Lord, please increase my faith. Help me to see you act in my life and to discover your perfect love in all things. As I see you at work in my life, help me to know, with greater certainty, your perfect love. Jesus I believe in you.