Word to the Wise
Saturday, June 28, 2008 - St. Irenaeus, bishop and martyr
[Lamentations 2:2, 10-14, 18-19 and Matthew 8:5-17]"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 saw 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'm pretty sure that Centurion had no idea he would be immortalized in Roman Catholic liturgy! We say a version of his act of faith just before the reception of communion at every celebration of the Eucharist (at Mass or at a Communion Service). There are two things (at least) that are worthy of note here. The first follows up on yesterday's healing of the leper. The Centurion is NOT a Jew! His faith is a gift and his expression of it seems to catch Jesus by surprise! But Jesus doesn't send him away. One of the "sub-themes" of the Gospel of Matthew is that the faith will spread beyond the boundaries of Judaism and the "Great Commission" at the end of the gospel is the seal on that promise. The second point is the direct and uncomplicated expression of the faith of the Centurion, based on his own experience! He is accustomed to a chain of command! He is subject to authority and has folks subject to HIS authority. In short, he is used to giving and receiving orders! He has no problems with Jesus' "only saying the word!" Jesus doesn't have to come to the house! No skepticism here! No if's, and's or but's! The Centurion becomes a model of unquestioning faith in Jesus' power to heal. When we repeat his words, do we mean them the same way he did? AMEN
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