Homily for Monday of the 4th Week of Lent

For daily readings, see http://www.usccb.org/nab/readings/030308.shtml

How easily we believe in Jesus when he improves our lives in exactly the way in which we ask him to improve them. There is nothing wrong with prayers of petitions, asking for good things from God, to be sure, but we are not supposed to be confounded by our expectations. Sometimes God gives us what is best for us by conforming our lives more fully to the mystery of the Lord’s cross, which is the everlasting sign of God’s love for us. Jesus gains more believers in today’s reading by working a wonderful sign, and healing the son of the royal official. But even in today’s Gospel he is cautioning those who are following him. They should not believe in Him simply because of his signs and wonders. The sign where we are to most recognize the identity of Jesus is the sign of the cross. It is there that we really choose whether or not to be his disciples. He tells us plainly, unless you take up your cross and follow me, you cannot be my disciple. When we ask for good things from God that we truly need, let us also ask him to not make things too easy for us, lest we fail to recognize Him when He places himself into our hands, and is nailed to a cross for our offenses.