Risky and Persistent Faith

Devotional Reflection, Wednesday, January 8, 2025

The Week of the Epiphany

The Rev. David W. Perkins, Th.D.

Key verses for reflection from today’s Gospel reading:

49The official said to him, ‘Sir, come down before my little boy dies.’ 50Jesus said to him, ‘Go; your son will live.’ The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and started on his way. 51As he was going down, his slaves met him and told him that his child was alive.

You will find the full text of today’s Gospel reading at the end of this reflection.

Daily Office Lectionary Readings: (BCP, 942)

AM, Psalms 117, 118;  PM  Psalms 111, 112

Isa. 59:15-21; Rev. 2:8-17; John 4:46-54

Today we celebrate the Feast of Harriet Bedell.  See below.

David's Reflections

John weaves the first half of his portrait of Jesus around a series of miracles that he presents as parables of Jesus' identity.  He calls them "signs."  The first sign, the turning of water into wine, presents Jesus as the one who fulfills the hope of Judaism for cleansing and forgiveness.

This second sign presents us with radical faith from someone outside the Jewish religion, almost as if John were stressing his faith as over against the unbelief of Jesus' own people.  Earlier in John 4, Samaritans had come to faith in Jesus.  Now, a nonJewish nobleman believes. His ethnic identity remains vague; Capernaum was a border town, so he could have been a Jewish soldier in the service of Herod Antipas, Jewish ruler of the region. Or he could have been a Roman official or soldier. I see John progressing from a pious Jew (Nicodemus) to a Samaritan woman (John 4), to a nonJewish official or soldier (today’s reading).

The man's faith has a radical element in that he believes Jesus can heal his little boy without coming into direct physical contact.  His initial request met with something of a rebuff from Jesus, an accusation that he wanted a sign in order to believe.  But, the desperate father persisted.  Jesus responded to that persistence by telling the man that his son would live, and the man believed that word so strongly that he began the return trip based on nothing but faith in Jesus' word.  Servants met him on the way and informed him that the boy had begun to recover at the same hour that Jesus had said he would live.

The father believed again, or perhaps we are to understand that his faith grew in response to the sign.  He believed without having seen, and when he did see he believed even more fully. (See verses 52-53 below.) As Jesus says In Jn. 20:29, “blessed are they who have not seen and yet have believed.”

Although Jesus is not now physically present, he continues to do the same works of healing, salvation, and transformation that he began in Judea and Galilee.  However, we must exercise radical faith in his presence and power with no visual evidence, as did this father.  Such faith unleashes the powerful, saving presence of Jesus, and when we see evidence of that saving presence our faith will grow even stronger and bolder.

What persistent prayer comes from your soul today?  Like this father, persist in the face of initial silence.  Believe, trust, risk.  That is the message in this sign.  Jesus' power to act is not lessened by his physical absence.  Our risky and persistent faith releases his presence and power into our lives and into the lives of those around us. And, our faith grows in response to Jesus’ loving presence and action.

John Tietjen once wrote,  "With faith we are so convinced of the reality of God's eternal world promised to us in Christ that we act on that reality in our lives and so make it real in the here and now.” @

@John H. Tietjen, "Hebrews 11:8-12," Interpretation 42 (Oct 88):406-407

Collect of the Feast of the Epiphany

O God, who by the leading of a star manifested your only Son to the Peoples of the earth: Lead us, who know you now by faith, to your presence, where we may see your glory face to face; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.  Amen.

Today we celebrate the Feast of Harriet Bedell, deaconess and missionary.  (died 8 Jan 1969). http://satucket.com/lectionary/Bedell.htm

Collect of the Feast of Harriet Bedell

Holy God, you chose your faithful servant Harriet Bedell to exercise the ministry of deaconess and to be a missionary among indigenous peoples: Fill us with compassion and respect for all people, and empower us for the work of ministry throughout the world; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

A Collect for the Renewal of Life

O God, the King eternal, whose light divides the day from the night and turns the shadow of death into the morning: Drive far from us all wrong desires, incline our hearts to keep your law, and guide our feet into the way of peace; that, having done your will with cheerfulness while it was day, we may, when night comes, rejoice to give you thanks; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.  (BCP, 99)

In the Morning

This is another day, O Lord. I know not what it will bring forth, but make me ready, Lord, for whatever it may be. If I am to stand up, help me to stand bravely. If I am to sit still, help me to sit quietly. If I am to lie low, help me to do it patiently. And if I am to do nothing, let me do it gallantly. Make these words more than words, and give me the Spirit of Jesus. Amen.  (BCP, 461)

A Collect for the Presence of Christ

Lord Jesus, stay with us, for evening is at hand and the day is past; be our companion in the way, kindle our hearts, and awaken hope, that we may know you as you are revealed in Scripture and the breaking of bread. Grant this for the sake of your love. Amen. (BCP, 124)

A Collect for Mission

O God of unchangeable power and eternal light: Look favorably on your whole Church, that wonderful and sacred mystery; by the effectual working of your providence, carry out in tranquility the plan of salvation; let the whole world see and know that things which were cast down are being raised up, and things which had grown old are being made new, and that all things are being brought to their perfection by him through whom all things were made, your Son Jesus Christ our Lord; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.  (BCP, 280, 515, 528, 540)

Daily Office Gospel Reading: John 4:46-54

4:46Then he came again to Cana in Galilee where he had changed the water into wine. Now there was a royal official whose son lay ill in Capernaum.  47When he heard that Jesus had come from Judea to Galilee, he went and begged him to come down and heal his son, for he was at the point of death.  48Then Jesus said to him, ‘Unless you see signs and wonders you will not believe.’ 49The official said to him, ‘Sir, come down before my little boy dies.’ 50Jesus said to him, ‘Go; your son will live.’ The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and started on his way. 51As he was going down, his slaves met him and told him that his child was alive. 52So he asked them the hour when he began to recover, and they said to him, ‘Yesterday at one in the afternoon the fever left him.’ 53The father realized that this was the hour when Jesus had said to him, ‘Your son will live.’ So he himself believed, along with his whole household. 54Now this was the second sign that Jesus did after coming from Judea to Galilee.

Daily Prayer Offices in The Book of Common Prayer

Morning Prayer, Rite 2, page 75, Book of Common Prayer

Noonday Prayer, p. 103, Book of Common Prayer

Order of Worship for Evening (Vespers), p. 109, Book of Common Prayer

Evening Prayer, Rite 2, page 115, Book of Common Prayer

Compline (Night Prayer), Page 127, Book of Common Prayer

Daily Devotionals, page 136, Book of Common Prayer