4th Week of Lent 2019 - Monday - From superficial to radical faith

Leading up to Holy Week, our Gospel readings for daily Mass are taken from the Gospel of John.  Where each of the other evangelists record many miracles, John chooses only seven: the miracle at the wedding of cana, the healing of the royal official’s son, the healing of the paralytic, the feeding of the five thousand, the walking on water, the healing of the man born blind, and the raising of Lazarus.

Through these miracles many come to believe that he is God incarnate. And yet in John’s Gospel, Jesus often appears critical of those who come to him only seeking miracles or impressive spectacles. He has come not as an entertainer, but to reconcile us to God and to restore supernatural life that has been lost through sin. “A thief comes only to steal and slaughter and destroy,” Jesus says in John chapter 10.  “I came, so that they might have life and have it more abundantly.”

The restoration of the supernatural life of grace comes from a restored relationship to God through Jesus. He is the way, the truth, and the life, no one comes to the Father except through Him. So Jesus invites those who encounter Him to not simply observe his miracles from a distance, but to enter into the faith relationship of discipleship.

The purpose of our Lenten penances, isn’t to complete these acts for their own sake, but so that we might become more open to the life and grace which will strengthen us as Christian disciples. The living relationship with Jesus Christ is a matter of life and death, just as it was for the royal official’s son in the Gospel today, and the true living relationship is anything but superficial, it is to affect our every decision and desire and relationship. Just as the royal official’s “whole household” came to believe because of his faith, so to our faith should have a palpable effect upon our families and relationships.

May our Lenten observances continue to deepen our faith, to convert those areas of our life that we keep from God, to move us from superficial faith to radical Christian discipleship for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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For an increase in faith for the catechumens and candidates who approach the sacraments of initiation in the coming Paschal Solemnity.

That the Church might be delivered and protected from all spirits of error, heresy, schism, and unbelief.

For strength to resist temptation, and the humility to sincerely repent of sin.

That through fasting and self-denial, we may be ever more conformed to Christ.

That those in need may find assist in the charity of faithful Christians and that peace and security may be firmly established in all places.

For all who have died, and for all the poor souls in purgatory, and for X. for whom this Mass is offered.

Mercifully hear, O Lord, the prayers of your Church and turn with compassion to the hearts that bow before you, that those you make sharers in your divine mystery may always benefit from your assistance.