(Please read the Scripture passage before reading the homily.)
It was a miracle when Jesus healed the royal official’s son. But that was not important. We see miracles every day, so we could ask why this should be a big deal. The miracle was secondary; John called it a sign. Signs point to give directions. The father and the household saw the sign and “came to believe”.
Miracles are meaningless unless they lead to belief. The sun rises today. It may rain. The early morning’s temperature will give way to warmer temperatures this afternoon. Each day God is creating a new day with new marvels in them. These new creations, these things of beauty and awe, these miracles, however, are meaningless to us unless we come to believe.
No matter what our political orientation and preference, we are called to see miracles in the elections of our past and present Presidents. No matter what language we speak, we are called to hear miracles in the words of every person who speaks. No matter what our place of birth or the circumstances surrounding it, we are called to see every person on the planet as a sign of God’s love and care for all.
All these signs, however, are meaningless unless we come to believe. In fact, unless we come to believe, we shall treat these signs as utterly meaningless to us. It also happens that what we treat as meaningless, we also mistreat, abuse and eventually kill.
The scriptures today, as usual, call us to belief and to action. If the scriptures do not bring us to change our lives, we have not heard them. We must hear and respond with belief.
Jesus said that the boy would live. The man believed and so did his whole household. Are we members of that same household?