Thoughts for the Day

When he entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, appealing to him and saying, ‘Lord, my servant is lying at home paralysed, in terrible distress.’ And he said to him, ‘I will come and cure him.’ The centurion answered, ‘Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof; but only speak the word, and my servant will be healed. For I also am 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 the slave does it.’ When Jesus heard him, he was amazed and said to those who followed him, ‘Truly I tell you, in no one in Israel have I found such faith. I tell you, many will come from east and west and will eat with Abraham and Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven, while the heirs of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ And to the centurion Jesus said, ‘Go; let it be done for you according to your faith.’ And the servant was healed in that hour.

(Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

The beautiful retriever puppy at my friend's house jumped up yet again, scrabbling at my knees to get attention. "Down!" I commanded in my sternest voice. It had no effect at all. I tried again! She had yet to learn about obeying commands. In total contrast, one word of command to the collie and she would stop whatever she was doing and lie down. On the narrow road outside the farmhouse she would also listen out for cars, and immediately lie down, hearing them long before we humans.

In the same way the centurion, an officer in the Roman army, whom most Jews had reason to hate, knew about authority. A word of command was given and it would instantly be obeyed, as though given by the Emperor himself. Unusually the Roman wishes to ask Jesus for help to heal his servant who is possibly a slave, who were often killed when they became sick! We should also note that the centurion goes to Jesus rather than cause him the distress of entering a Roman house (which no Jew would want to do, though Jesus offers to go); and that he believes Jesus has the spiritual authority from God to say a word that will heal the servant. However, the most amazing thing is the comment that Jesus makes. Seeing the Centurion's faith he announces that there will be Gentiles in the Kingdom of Heaven.

We are the Gentiles who are invited into the Kingdom, a Kingdom which is partly here though not fully, if we will take up the offer. But is our faith strong enough to accept the authority of our Lord Jesus, who offers us healing, and a place in the Kingdom?

Lord Jesus Christ,
You spoke and it was accomplished,
Your word was all it took to heal the servant,
because of the faith of the Centurion.
Give us the faith to believe in Your authority
when we ask for healing for those we know;
and for healing of the world.
May we akso accept Your offer of a place
in the Kingdom of Heaven,
and continue to help bring it to fruition.
Amen.