In today’s gospel, Jesus heals a royal official’s son – not by visiting but by only a few words. This official was likely to be a Gentile, not a Jew. But he travelled about 50 km from Capernaum to Cana to invite Jesus to his place in Capernaum. He could have sent his servants, but he took the pain to travel. But when he beseeched Jesus, the words of Jesus were somewhat cold. Jesus did not greet him with enthusiasm or mercy. He first said, “Unless you see signs and wonders you will not believe.” It is not surprising since Jesus previously answered to his mother’s request at the wedding at Cana, “O, Woman, what have you to do with me? My hour has not yet come.” And we also remember how he reacted to the Canaanite woman who had asked him to heal her daughter with demonic possession. Jesus compared her and her daughter to dogs. He seemed to like challenging people of their faith and trust in him.

Have you imagined how the royal official felt when Jesus briefly said, “Go; your son will live”? When Naaman the Syrian came to the prophet Elisha for his leprosy, Elisha did not even come out to greet him but sent a word to him, “Go, wash in the Jordan seven times.” Naaman first got upset. The royal official would have felt the same. However, he believed the word of Jesus and left for his home. But before he arrived, he received the news of his son’s healing.

Our Lord reveals his power with his word. But we must express our faith through actions and deeds. The Gentile royal official travelled a long distance to invite Jesus. The Canaanite woman lowered herself like a dog before Jesus. Let us remember what the Blessed Mother said, “Do whatever he tells you.”