Word to the Wise
Monday, September 18, 2017 - Monday in the 24th Week in Ordinary Time
[1 Tim 2:1-8 and Luke 7:1-10]"Lord, do not trouble yourself, for I am not worthy to have you enter my roof. Therefore, I did not consider myself worthy to come to you; but say the word and let my servant be healed." [Luke]
SEPTEMBER 18 ST. JUAN MACIAS, O.P.
The words of the centurion should be famliar to us. We repeat them before receiving communion at Mass. The rest of his statement is worth repeating here: 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." In short, the centurion has the same faith in Jesus' word of authority as he has in his own word of authority or that of his own commander.
Two things stand out. The first is the power of Jesus' word to heal whether in person or from a distance. For the centurion, that was as simple as commanding a subject. He acknowledges Jesus' command. The second is the faith of the Roman pagan centurion. No wonder Jesus is amazed and says, "I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such faith." We who are "cradle Catholics" can easily take for granted the faith that is involved in accepting Jesus' words, "This is my body!" We might be surprised at the faith some of our non-Catholic friends who come up with arms crossed in front of them to receive a blessing. I have met non-Catholics at parish missions who come to receive the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick! If they long to participate, that desire is very much like the faith of the centurion. I learn about their status usually after the ceremony!
The power of Jesus and the power of faith are presented to us today. Do we believe in both? AMEN
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