Unless you people see signs and wonders, you will not believe

11 MARCH (Jn 4,43-54)

If we read Psalm 78 we notice that the sign – a marvelous work of the Lord – supports only for a moment the faith of the people of the Lord, but then everything disappears and then there is the need of countless other signs. It is like the air you breathe. It is enough only for a few seconds, then you need new air, if you want to preserve your own life.

He wrought wonders before their fathers In the land of Egypt, in the field of Zoan. He divided the sea and caused them to pass through, And He made the waters stand up like a heap. Then He led them with the cloud by day And all the night with a light of fire. He split the rocks in the wilderness And gave them abundant drink like the ocean depths. He brought forth streams also from the rock And caused waters to run down like rivers. Yet they still continued to sin against Him, To rebel against the Most High in the desert.  And in their heart they put God to the test By asking food according to their desire.  Then they spoke against God; They said, “Can God prepare a table in the wilderness?  “Behold, He struck the rock so that waters gushed out, And streams were overflowing; Can He give bread also? Will He provide meat for His people?”  Therefore the LORD heard and was full of wrath; And a fire was kindled against Jacob And anger also mounted against Israel, Because they did not believe in God And did not trust in His salvation. Yet He commanded the clouds above And opened the doors of heaven; He rained down manna upon them to eat And gave them food from heaven. Man did eat the bread of angels; He sent them food in abundance. He caused the east wind to blow in the heavens And by His power He directed the south wind.  When He rained meat upon them like the dust, Even winged fowl like the sand of the seas,  Then He let them fall in the midst of their camp, Round about their dwellings. So they ate and were well filled, And their desire He gave to them. Before they had satisfied their desire, While their food was in their mouths,  The anger of God rose against them And killed some of their stoutest ones, And subdued the choice men of Israel.  In spite of all this they still sinned And did not believe in His wonderful works (Cf. Psalm 78 (77) 1-72).

Jesus wishes everyone believed on the basis of mere Word uttered by Him. He cries it out several times, but he knows that this is impossible. As man cannot live without breathing constantly, so faith starts from the sign and needs it to grow and stay alive. Sin has so weakened man as to render him incapable of any perseverance in faith, hope and charity. He needs a continuous support from the Lord. Not only is his grace invisible, but it is also visible. The sign is the visible grace of God for the support of the faith of children.

After the two days, he left there 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 he 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.

In Jesus charity has always the upper hand over everything. Sure, it is just to always pass through the most pure path of the faith in the Word. But man at times sees the Word as useless for his life. Grace, yes, is helpful to him. And for him grace is the miracle of the healing of the loved ones. Jesus loves man, regardless of birth or less of the faith in a heart. Never is faith put before love. It is always love that has primacy over all things. Then from love can also faith be born and as a fact it does. This principle also applies to his disciple. This must not aim from the outset at the birth of faith in the hearts. Instead, he must attest, in the greatest and utmost freedom, to his extraordinary power of love towards all. He must always love, without asking. Then faith will be born.

Virgin Mary, Mother of the Redemption, Angels and Saints teach us how to love.