LUKE 7:1-10
When Jesus had finished all his words to the people, he entered Capernaum. A centurion there had a slave who was ill and about to die, and he was valuable to him. When he heard about Jesus, he sent elders of the Jews to him, asking him to come and save the life of his slave. They approached Jesus and strongly urged him to come, saying, “He deserves to have you do this for him, for he loves our nation and he built the synagogue for us.” And Jesus went with them, but when he was only a short distance from the house, the centurion sent friends to tell him, “Lord, do not trouble yourself, for I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof. Therefore, I did not consider myself worthy to come to you; but say the word and let my servant be healed. 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.” When Jesus heard this he was amazed at him and, turning, said to the crowd following him, “I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such faith.” When the messengers returned to the house, they found the slave in good health.
REFLECTIONS
HE SENT ELDERS OF THE JEWS TO HIM. This is what the Roman centurion does when he hears Jesus entering Capernaum. The centurion is worried about his slave who is seriously ill and in fact dying. He does not personally approach Jesus, but sends a delegation (elders of the Jews) to convince Jesus to visit his house and save his servant. The elders tell Jesus that the centurion deserves his attention for the good the man has done: he loves the Jewish people and has built a synagogue for them.Without question, Jesus goes with them. But as he draws near the house, the centurion sends another delegation (his friends) to tell Jesus to abort his coming. The officer has changed his mind. He explains that he did not personally go to him because he feels unworthy. All the more now as he spots Jesus approaching, his feeling of unworthiness mounts. He requests Jesus to say the word, and his servant will be healed.
The centurion believes in the power of the word. Just as the command he gives is obeyed, so Jesus can heal from a distance. Jesus does not have to come close and touch in order to heal. His word is enough.
Jesus is amazed at this kind of faith that he has not seen in Israel. He sends home the messengers and heals the slave from a distance.
SOURCE: “365 Days with the Lord 2018,” ST. PAULS Philippines, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 895-9701; Fax 895-7328; E-mail: [email protected]; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.