Meditation Minute

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

 

"Lord, I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof; only say the word and my servant will be healed.”

 

Gospel Reading: Matthew 8:5-11

 

When Jesus entered Capernaum, a centurion approached him and appealed to him, saying, "Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, suffering dreadfully." He said to him, "I will come and cure him." The centurion said in reply, "Lord, I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof; only say the word and my servant will be healed. For I too am a man 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 and said to those following him, "Amen, I say to you, in no one in Israel have I found such faith. I say to you, many will come from the east and the west, and will recline with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob at the banquet in the Kingdom of heaven."

 

In today’s Gospel reading, we hear a story of unexpected faith. The centurion tells Jesus, “Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, suffering dreadfully.” At the time of Jesus, Jews were not allowed to go into the homes of Roman soldiers, yet the Roman soldier invites Jesus into his home.  More importantly, the Centurion acknowledges his unworthiness.  The Centurion is a leader and commander of soldiers.  By his title, he must be a strong and commanding person, yet he humbles himself to Christ.  While his soldiers usually bow to him, the Centurion must bow down to Jesus to acknowledge his supremacy. In his humility, he acknowledges Jesus authority over him when he says, “Only say the word, and my servant will be healed.” This is a power the Centurion does not have.  He has many powers of the servant, but he does not have the ability to heal him.  Through this statement, the centurion not only established a belief that Christ has healing powers, but also establishes a acknowledgement of his Jewish faith. Jesus responds to the centurion, “Amen, I say to you, in no one 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 subject to authority, with soldiers subject to me.” 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 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, a time top awaken the spirit that is within.  It is a time to be deeply shaken for 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