In today’s Gospel, Jesus leaves Samaria and returns to Galilee. After mentioning prophets weren’t given honor in their native place, Jesus is given a warm welcome, returning from a strange land to a familiar one. He was known from the wedding at Cana as the miracle worker, which seemed to cause some distress for Jesus, as there was an expectation for signs.

It is not one of his peers or family members that reaches out to Jesus in Galilee, but a royal official, someone who would have likely been unwelcome, as he may have been a representative of empire and colonization. If not, he at least had rank, power, and finances – clearly an outsider.

He begs Jesus to help and Jesus replies with a simple response of, “You may go; your son will live.” This man, outside of the circles of Jesus, believes and his son is healed. Jesus came not just for the disciples and his inner circle of Apostles, but also for the Samaritans and Romans, the Gentiles and those who were in irregular situations. The grace of belief comes in surprising places. Take a moment to consider what nourishes your belief. How do you relate to those that believe differently than you? Can you trust that God’s grace is bigger than what is expected?