we hold on because of a promise - Monday 4th week Lent

Our first reading speaks of that time when there will always be rejoicing and happiness in whatever God does.  It speaks of the new heavens and the new earth, of a time when there will be no more weeping and no sound of crying can be heard.  There shall be no more untimely death, no more unexpected death.  This is difficult to believe especially when we are in the presence of death itself.  This is difficult to preach especially when are still in grief.

Our gospel today however, pushes us to go the extra mile in believing.  Jesus healed the official’s daughter from a distance.  Sang nangayo ang tatay nga ayuhon ang iya bata, ang Ginoo wala nagkadto sa balay sadtong opisyal, sa baylo ginsingganan lang niya sia “Lakat ka.”  Kag dugang diri nagsiling ang ebanghelyo nga ang tatay nagtuo sa pulong ni Jesus kag naglakat.  Iya ginsaligan ang ginhambal ni Jesus.

He did not give immediate evidence to the miracle he was performing.  He did not go to the house of the official in order to cure the child.  He just simply assured him that she had been cured.  Did he give evidence?  No.  Did he show a sign, an assuring sign?  No, there was not.  It was just an assurance made in words, an assurance backed by a promise.

Ang aton pagtuluohan isa ka pagtuluohan nga puro lang pasalig.  Ang halos tanan nga aton ginatindugan amo lamang ang mga pasalig sang Dios.  Makasalig bala kita sa iya bisan wala pa kita nakakita sang mga dalagku kag makatilinga nga mga butang?  Makatuo bala kita sa promise sang Dios bisan pa wala ini sing makita nga pamatuod.  Makasalig bala kita nga magaabot gid ang adlaw nga pahiran sang Dios ang mga luha sa aton mga mata – wala na sing paghibi, wala na sing kasakit, wala na sing pagbulagay?  What we are experiencing is the contrast of the promise – there is death, there is sadness, there is a sense of loss and yet can we believe?

Let us remember that our faith rest on the promises of God.  Sometimes we may have a hint of his great power and love but most often those of us who never had amazing stories to tell about miracles in our lives will rely solely on the strength of a promise.  Nevertheless we should note that these promises were made to us by no other person but God himself.