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Monday of the Fourth Week of Lent • Lent 2026 •
Year A • Beads of Joy Blog II
✝️ Today's Mass Readings
First Reading: Isaiah 65:17-21
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 30:2, 4, 5-6, 11-13
Gospel: John 4:43-54
📖 The Gospel - John 4:43-54
A royal official
comes to Jesus in desperation; his son is dying. He has traveled a day's
journey just to find Him. Jesus tests him first, unless you see signs and
wonders, you will not believe. And the man simply says, Sir, come down before my
child dies. Jesus says, go, your son will live. And the man believed the word
Jesus spoke to him and went.
🙏 Gospel Reflection
Isaiah opens today
with one of the most breathtaking promises in all of Scripture, I am about to
create new heavens and a new earth. The former things shall not be remembered
or come to mind. Be glad and rejoice forever in what I am creating. God is not
a God of repairs and patches. He is a God of new creation. He doesn't just fix
the broken thing. He makes something gloriously, entirely new.
The royal official in today's Gospel is a man
at the end of his rope. His son is dying. He has tried everything available to him,
and nothing has worked. And he makes this long journey to find Jesus, not
because he has great faith, not because he has everything figured out, but
because he has nothing left to lose and nowhere else to go. And Jesus meets him
exactly where he is in his life.
Look what happens after Jesus speaks in
response to this father's request. The man believed, and then he went. He didn't
demand proof first. He didn't ask Jesus to come in person. He took the word of
Jesus as sufficient and turned around and walked home. And somewhere on that
road home, his servants met him with the news, " Your son is alive". And the
moment he checked the hour, he knew. The fever left at the exact moment Jesus
had spoken.
That is faith fully in action. Not waiting to
see the miracle first and then believing. Walking home on the word alone and
trusting that what Jesus said is already done. That is where we are in this
week of Lent, friends. We are on the road home. Easter is more than three weeks
away. Walk toward it on the word of the Resurrected Christ.
💭 Reflection Question
Where in your life
right now are you waiting to see the miracle before you believe, and what would
it look like to turn around and start walking home on Jesus's word alone,
trusting that the new thing He promised is already happening?
📿 Today's Rosary - The Sorrowful Mysteries
Today's Focus
Mystery: The Agony in the
Garden
The royal official
walked home on the words Jesus spoke. Jesus in Gethsemane trusted the Father
with His life on a word, not yet seeing the resurrection but trusting it was
coming. As you pray these beads today, walk with Jesus on that dark road from
the garden toward what the Father had promised, and let his trust strengthen
yours.
🌹 Our Lady of Fatima - Today's Connection
Isaiah says, “I am
about to create new heavens and a new earth”. Our Lady of Fatima's entire
mission is wrapped up in that promise. She came to Fatima, pointing toward the
new creation that is available to every soul that turns toward God, a life
renewed, a heart made fresh, a world transformed by prayer and conversion. The
Rosary is a school that walks us through the life of Jesus, with Mary by His
side. Each mystery is a window into what God has already done and what He is
still doing. As you pray your beads today, let Isaiah's words wash over you, be
glad and rejoice. Something new is being made. Even in you. Especially in you.
🕊️ Closing Prayer
Lord, You are the God
of new creation, not repairs, not patches, but something completely new.
Whatever in me feels beyond fixing today, I place in Your hands. Speak the
word. I will believe it and start walking home. Amen.
©2026 James Dacey, Jr., OFS
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