Meditation Minute

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

“Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof; but only say the word, and my servant will be healed.” In today’s Gospel reading (Matthew 8:5-11), we hear the story of the centurion’s faith. The centurion tells Jesus, “Lord, my servant is lying paralyzed at home, in terrible distress.” At the time of Jesus, Jews were not allowed to go into the Roman soldiers’ homes, so the centurion says, “Only say the word, and my servant will be healed.” Through this statement, the centurion has not only established a belief that Christ has healing powers, but also establishes a concern for his Jewish faith. Jesus responds to the centurion, “Truly, I say to you, not even in Israel have I found such faith.” The Roman centurion represented power. He was in control of a large number of men. The centurion described himself as “a man under authority, with soldiers under me; and I say to one, `Go,' and he goes, and to another, `Come,' and he comes, and to my slave, `Do this,' and he does it.” However, the centurion was powerless to help his servant. With all his earthly strength and power, he had no control over life and death or sickness and health. He had to admit his weakness and humbleness to Christ. In admitting his weakness, he admitted the strength of his faith. When things are going good and we feel in control and in charge, it is not easy for us to recognize who really is in control. It is not until we recognize our mortality or our human limitations that we reach out for Christ. In this advent season, we should recognize that we are weak and need Christ all the time. We should prepare the way for the Lord into our life. Allow Christ to be reborn in your soul and your heart. You should use this advent season as a time of renewal and rebirth in your faith.

A Simple Prayer

Lord, I am a servant lying paralyzed;

Only say the word and I shall be healed.

Yours in Christ

Michael Marcon