REFLECTIONS TODAY
In his poem, The Charge of the Light Brigade, Alfred Lord Tennyson writes something about the military command even in blunder: “Theirs not to make reply, theirs not to reason why, Theirs but to do and die. Into the valley of Death, rode the six hundred.” In the military world, the officer’s order must be obeyed. But the centurion in the Gospel shows a remarkable attitude. He begs the attention of Jesus, not for his sake, but for his servant. He treats his servants not as slaves at his beck and call. Rather, he considers them as part of his household. Jesus accedes to the centurion’s request and says that God’s banquet in heaven is open not just to the Israelites, but to all peoples. In the Kingdom of God, there is no distinction between race, color, creed, or station in life. All who do good to their neighbor can be part of God’s family.
Gospel • Mt 8:5-11
When Jesus entered Capernaum, a centurion approached him and appealed to him, saying, “Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, suffering dreadfully.” He said to him, “I will come and cure him.” The centurion said in reply, “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 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 and said to those following him, “Amen, I say to you, in no one in Israel have I found such faith. I say to you, many will come from the east and the west, and will recline with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob at the banquet in the Kingdom of heaven.”
Source: “365 Days with the Lord 2022,” St. Pauls, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 632-895-9701; Fax 632-895-7328; E-mail: [email protected]; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.