Monday of the Fourth Week of
Lent
Isaiah
65:17-21
John 4:43-54
Hope - Hold On Pain Ends
Dear Brothers and sisters in Christ
Jesus, the readings presented to us today lead us to establish “Hope” in our lives. Hope in general,
reduces our helplessness and stress and increases our happiness and quality of
life. In simple words, it helps us move forward despite the difficulties with a
belief of better days to come. Whereas Biblical Hope is to have a belief and
confidence in God’s promises and faithfulness.
In today’s first reading, Prophet
Isaiah offers to the people of Israel a Hope of future Messianic age, in which
as God promised “look! I am going to create new
heavens and new earth”. God promises a new heaven and new earth and new jerusalem.
Messianic Age /world refers to a :
● A world with life and prosperity
● A world filled with joy and peace
● A world without weeping, sadeness,
pain and death.
In the present times, the world is
completely polluted by sin and sinfulness, therefore in the Messianic Age there
will be complete renewal of the world in which the past is totally erased by
the hand of God.
To put it plainly, Messianic Age is
going to bring better times, better futures and better lives Individually,
Socially and the whole world as a whole (a complete transformation).
In fact, this is what Jesus
proclaimed through his personality and his ministry, In him is the Messianic Age. That's why St. Paul
says “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature;
the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.” (2 Corinthians 5:17). God has formed us and made us in his image
and likeness, unique in our personality, but this was marred by our sins.
However God is capable of once again creating us anew (the New US)
An
example is found in today’s Gospel. Jesus restores the life of the dying son of
the Official. It was not just a physical healing but a spiritual healing too.
When the official came with a request to heal his son, he believed in Jesus.
And when Jesus said “ go home!your son will live”. He set off for his home
believing the words of Jesus because Jesusò’words have hope. The power of Jesus' words and combined with
the faith of the official brought a miracle in his family. The whole household
was made anew with the gift of healing, life and blessing of Jesus.
This
is what Jesus came to do with us. We are threatened with death due to our
sinfulness and He came to save our souls and offer us new hope and new life in
the face of our inevitable death for Jesus said “ I am the resurrection and the Life”
It
is a known fact that There will be pains, sickness, and tragedies but God
offers us a hope of new life, if we are firm in our faith.
For I know well the plans I have in mind for you—oracle of
the LORD—plans for your welfare and not for woe, so as to give you a future of
hope. (Jeremiah 29:11)
You are my refuge and shield;in your word
I hope. (Psalm 119:114)