Word to the Wise
Monday, December 1, 2014 - 1st Week of Advent - Mon
[Isa 2:1-5 (or, in Year A, Isa 4:2-6) and Matt 8:5-11]"Lord, I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof; only say the word and my servant will be healed." [Matthew]
These familiar words which we quote at communion time at Mass or whenever we receive communion amazed Jesus! He obviously did not expect this kind of faith from a Roman centurion, who was very likely a pagan! However, the centurion did understand the power of a spoken command and he put faith in Jesus' powerful word. The result was healing from a distance!
It seems to me that the centurion sets a great example for us to follow at the beginning of Advent. Can we trust in Jesus' word that he will come and he will heal us? Or do we just go through the motions of the season that our culture offers? Do we give the "manger scene" a place of honor? Do we vaguely sing "O Come, O Come Emmanuel," without paying attention to what it can mean for our own captivity? Can we amaze Jesus with our own faith? Paying more attention to Advent might just do that! AMEN