12-Sep-16

Gospel LK 7:1-10

When Jesus had finished all his words to the people,
he entered Capernaum.
A centurion there had a slave who was ill and about to die,
and he was valuable to him.
When he heard about Jesus, he sent elders of the Jews to him,
asking him to come and save the life of his slave.
They approached Jesus and strongly urged him to come, saying,
“He deserves to have you do this for him,
for he loves our nation and he built the synagogue for us.”
And Jesus went with them,
but when he was only a short distance from the house,
the centurion sent friends to tell him,
“Lord, do not trouble yourself,
for I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof.
Therefore, I did not consider myself worthy to come to you;
but say the word and let my servant be healed.
For I too am a person subject to authority,
with soldiers subject to me.
And I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes;
and to another, ‘Come here,’ and he comes;
and to my slave, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”
When Jesus heard this he was amazed at him
and, turning, said to the crowd following him,
“I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such faith.”
When the messengers returned to the house,
they found the slave in good health.

Reflection:
The Roman soldier in today's gospel was an unusual man. He was not only a soldier but a "Centurion," the equivalent of a sergeant major in a today's military.
As a representative of an occupying force, he was extremely helpful to those he ruled over, even building them a place of study and worship.
He certainly was aware of Jewish law for he did not ask Jesus, a Jew, to enter his home knowing it would be a violation of Jewish religious law for Him to enter the home of a Gentile.
Instead, he implored his Jewish friends to approach Jesus and ask him to heal his sick servant from a distance.
The Roman Centurion, being a man of authority himself, recognized Jesus as a person of authority.
The Centurion displayed great humility by conveying to Jesus through his Jewish friends:
“Lord, do not trouble yourself,
for I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof.
Therefore, I did not consider myself worthy to come to you;
but say the word and let my servant be healed."
The Centurion recognized Jesus' ability and authority to heal. He asked "with an expectant faith" that Jesus cure his servant. It never occurred to the Centurion that Jesus couldn't or wouldn't honor his request.
Amazed at the Centurion's great faith and humility, Jesus said,
“I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such faith."
Do I have the same confidence in Jesus' ability and willingness to answer my prayers?
Am I "fully expecting" that Jesus Christ can and will heal me when, before receiving communion, I echo the words of the Centurion: "Lord, I am not worthy that You should enter under my roof; but only say the word, and my soul will be healed?"

"Faith: the confident belief that that which I hope for will come to pass." - - Unknown