Trust in Him

Readings for Monday March 23, 2009

First Reading:  Isaiah 65:17-21

Responsorial Psalm:  Psalm 30

Gospel:  John 4:43-54

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.

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. (John 4:50-53)

In today's gospel, we have a great story of a man who seeks out Christ in order to ask for mercy on his son, Jesus answers the mans prayer and tells him that his son will live.  When Jesus tells the man this, the man believes the words of Jesus.  After his household sees for their own eyes, they also begin to believe.  This gospel story tells us that we too must not only believe in the works of Christ but also trust in His words.  

Every day Christ gives us signs in our life, showing us that He is there and that He is with us.  Most of the time we are too occupied with our own things, that we fail to see Jesus working.  If we can continue to focus on Christ through prayer and to call upon the Holy Spirit, then I believe that we will be able to better see the works that He is doing in our lives.  We must always remember to give God the glory for these great works and for the miracles that He performs in our world.  This gospel story also teaches us about trusting in God's word for us.  Just as the royal official believed Jesus when He said that his son would live, we too must believe the things that Christ gives to us through prayer and to the things that He lays on our hearts.  This is perhaps one of the most difficult things for us, especially when it goes against what we want or what the world tells us.  But we must remember the words from the "Our Father"; "thy kingdom come, thy will be done."  Trusting in God's word for us actually shows that we believe Him, and not just saying it.  

Today, think and ask yourself this question:  Is there something that God is calling me to trust in Him more today?

With God, we have every reason to live for Him, and no reason not to trust in Him.  

Father above, we thank you for the gift of this day.  Lord, help us to trust in you with all our heart, soul, mind and strength.  Lord, open our eyes and our hearts to your works in our lives, and help us to always give thanks and glory to you.  Lord, we pray for all those whose hearts are hardened, may they come to let go of the things that are holding them back from your love.  We ask this all through Christ our Lord.  Amen.