Homily for Monday of the 4th Week of Lent

Many people approached Jesus for help as he went around the villages. On the occasion that we hear about in today’s Gospel passage, a court official asked him to come to his home and cure his seriously ill son. This official was probably attached to the court of Herod Antipas. His request, at first, is met with what seems like a refusal. However, he wasn’t put off; he persevered, saying, “Sir, come down before my child dies.”

In response to this man’s perseverance, Jesus grants his request, but not in the way the man wanted. He didn’t go home with him to cure his son; he simply said, “Your son will live.” The man had to believe the word of Jesus and he did just that. He returned home on his own, with the promise of Jesus in his heart, and on the way, he discovered that his prayer had been answered.

When we approach the LORD in prayer, asking for his help, we too can feel that the LORD is not answering our prayer. He does not engage with us in the way we had hoped. When that happens, we must persevere in prayer, like the royal official in the Gospel. Like him, we will discover that the LORD will answer our prayer, even if not in the way we expected. Like the royal official, we are asked to take the LORD at his word and to travel with the LORD's promise in our hearts.+