There was a nobleman whose son was lying sick at
Capernaum. Some people think that this is the same man as that mentioned by S.
Matthew, but we can see he is a different one, not only by his rank, but also
by his faith. For one, when Christ was willing to come, begged him to stay;
while the other was for bringing him to his house when he had made no such
offer. One said "I am not worthy to receive thee under my while the other
pressed him: "Lord, come down before that my son die". And what was
Christ's answer? " You must see signs and miracles happen or you will not
believe. "
Indeed, it was at least a partial faith that he
had come and asked, and the evangelist admits this later when he reports Jesus
as saying "Go back home, thy son is to live, and the man began his journey
home putting his trust in the words Jesus had spoken to him. What, then does he
mean by this? The man believed, but his faith was not whole and entire. And we
can see this from the way he asked at what hour the fever left the boy. For he
wanted to know whether the fever had gone of its own accord or at the command
of Jesus. But when he learned that it was the day before at the seventh hour,
he and all his household found faith. Do you see how he found faith on the word
of his servants, not of Christ? And in saying this the evangelist censures the
state of mind he was in when he came. For it was this that brought him to
faith, and before the sign his trust was not very great. There is nothing very marvelous
in his coming and asking; for all fathers, moved by their great love not only
consult reputable doctors but also, in their desire to leave no avenue
unexplored, go to those in whom they put no real trust.
I would have you consider how great a weakness
this man's very words reveal. For he ought, at least after the rebuke of his
motives if not before, have had a high opinion of Christ, yet hear how he still
keeps firmly on the ground: "Come down" he says, "before my boy
dies." As though Jesus were not able to raise up the dead or did not know
in what condition the boy lay.
Therefore, he rebuked him and appealed to his
conscience, thus showing that the signs were performed principally for the good
of the soul. For in this he cured the sick soul of the father, no less than the
son, thus urging us to attend not to the signs, but to the teaching. The signs
are not for the faithful, but for those who lack faith and are dull witted. For
when he says " You must see signs and wonders happen or you will not
believe, " he means "You do not yet possess proper faith, but still
think of me as a prophet." For he revealed himself and showed that true
faith in him was independent of signs when he said to Philip: Do you not
believe that I am in the Father, and the Father is in me? Let my actions
convince you where I cannot?
Let us not expect miracles, or seek for pledges of
the divine power. For I now see many people here who showed much more piety and
devotion when their son or their wife was ill to get some consolation from it.
But we ought to continue to give thanks and praise even if we do not get what
we ask for. For this is what the rightminded servants and strong lovers of God
do: flying to him not only in easy times but also in trouble and distress, for
these also come from the loving kindness of God. It is where the Lord loves
that he bestows correction; there is no recognition of any child of his without
chastisement. And when a man serves him only when things are easy, he does not
show very great signs of love nor does he have a very real love for Christ.
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