My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, peace be with you as we continue our Lenten journey. We keep our focus on our final destination: to be with God forever. In the first reading from the prophet Isaiah, God reminds us that he has prepared something beautiful for us. He says: “I am about to create new heavens and a new earth; the things of the past shall not be remembered or come to mind. Instead there shall always be rejoicing and happiness” (Isaiah 65:17–18). No longer shall the sound of weeping be heard there, nor the sound of crying.
We remember that in heaven there will be no more death, no more pain, and no more tears. There will also be no more anger, hostility, rage, envy, jealousy, or lack of peace.
But on the way there we will experience difficult moments. And in today’s Gospel we hear about a royal official whose son was ill in Capernaum. When he hears about Jesus, he places his trust in him. And this is key for our Lenten journey: that we continue to place our trust in Jesus.
Now I would like to say a little about this royal official. The Gospel tells us: “Now there was a royal official whose son was ill in Capernaum” (John 4:46). The Greek word used is basilikos, which literally means “one belonging to the king” or a royal servant. This gives us clues about who he likely was.
Most likely he was an official of Herod Antipas, the ruler of Galilee during the time of Jesus’ ministry, who ruled from 4 BC until the year 39. Although technically a tetrarch, people often referred to him informally as a king. His capital city was Tiberias on the Sea of Galilee.
Therefore this royal official was likely a high-ranking court official in Herod’s administration. His possible responsibilities could have included regional administration, financial or tax oversight, military service connected to Herod’s guard, or work as a court steward or advisor.
Because he is identified simply as a royal official, he was probably a man of significant status. The Gospel account also suggests that he had servants, that his household was large enough that his entire household later came to believe, and that he had the means to travel roughly twenty to twenty-five miles—from Capernaum to Cana—to find Jesus.
In the first century that distance was roughly a full day’s journey, suggesting that he was a man of wealth and status, with attendants and the freedom to travel.
His obligations as a royal official would have included maintaining Herodian rule in Galilee, implementing Roman imperial policy, managing local governance, and participating in the culture and patronage of the royal court.
So why is this story so striking?
Theologically, it is powerful because this man represents the political elite, not the poor to whom Jesus so often ministered. He likely belonged to a Hellenized administrative class rather than the typical Jewish religious community.
And yet he humbly comes to Jesus and begs for help for his son.
At the end of the day, my brothers and sisters, we remember that we too are royal servants. In what sense? Because we follow Jesus. And who is Jesus? Jesus is the King of kings.
And if he is the King of kings, then we who serve him become royal servants.
Yet when we have done everything we can, Jesus teaches us not to claim credit or reward, but rather to say with humility: “We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty” (Luke 17:10).
My brothers and sisters, let us continue to serve the King of kings by reaching out to others—especially the less fortunate—and by spreading the good news that Jesus has not only loved us and died for us, but that he remains with us, walking beside us every step of the way.
May Almighty God bless you, through the intercession of the Mother of God.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Go in peace.
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