Gospel Reading:  John 4:43-54

43 Two days later He went from there and came to the country of Galilee. 44 Jesus Himself said that no one who speaks for God is respected in his own country. 45 When He came to Galilee, the people there were glad. They had seen all the things He did in Jerusalem. It was at the time of the special religious gathering to remember how the Jews left Egypt. They had been there also.

46 Jesus came again to the town of Cana of Galilee where He had made water into wine. A man who worked with the king had a son who was sick in the city of Capernaum. 47 This man went to Jesus. He had heard that Jesus had come from the country of Judea to Galilee. The man asked Jesus if He would go to Capernaum and heal his son who was dying. 48 Then Jesus said to him, "Unless you see special things and powerful works done, you will not believe." 49 The man said to Him, "Sir, come with me before my son dies." 50 Jesus said to him, "Go your way. Your son will live." The man put his trust in what Jesus said and left.

 51 As he was on his way home, his servants met him. They said to him, "Your son is living!" 52 He asked them what time his boy began to get well. They said to him, "Yesterday at one o'clock the sickness left." 53 The father knew it was the time Jesus had said to him, "Your son will live." He and everyone in his house put their trust in Jesus. 54 This was the second powerful work that Jesus did after He came from the country of Judea to the country of Galilee.

Old Testament Reading: Isaiah 65:17-21

19 I will have joy in Jerusalem and be glad in My people. The voice of crying will no longer be heard in it, or the cry of trouble. 20 No more will there be in it a child who lives only a few days, or an old man who does not live many years. For the child will live to be a hundred years old. And the one who does not live a hundred years will be thought to be cursed

Meditation: Jesus’ miracles are signs that manifest the presence and power of God’s kingdom. When a Gentile official heard the reports of Jesus’ preaching and miracles, he decided to seek Jesus out for an extraordinary favor. Jesus, perceiving his faith, sent him home with the assurance that his prayer had been heard. The court official believed and surrendered to Jesus. He was ready to return home and face ridicule and laughter because he trusted in Jesus' word. God's mercy shows his generous love -- a love that bends down in response to our misery and wretchedness. Do you approach the Lord Jesus with the readiness to believe in his word and to do whatever he commands?

Prayer: "Lord Jesus, your love never fails. Increase my faith and confidence in your saving word, make my hope in your promises strong and unwavering, and inflame my heart with consuming love for you and with kindness and mercy for my neighbor."

Psalm 30:2-12

2 O Lord my God, I cried to You for help and You healed me.
 3 O Lord, You have brought me up from the grave. You have kept me alive, so that I will not go down into the deep.
 4 Sing praise to the Lord, all you who belong to Him. Give thanks to His holy name.

5 For His anger lasts only a short time. But His favor is for life. Crying may last for a night, but joy comes with the new day.

6 As for me, when all was going well, I said, "I will never be moved."
 7 O Lord, by Your favor You have made my mountain stand strong. But when You hid Your face, I was troubled.
 8 I cried to You, O Lord. I begged the Lord for loving-kindness.

9 What good will come from my blood, if I go down to the grave? Will the dust thank You? Will it tell how You are faithful?