REFLECTIONS TODAY

The centurion, not being a Jew, does not personally go to Jesus. Instead, he asks the Jewish elders to plead for him. The elders obey. They say that Jesus should listen to his pleading, for he loves their nation. He built their synagogue. They know him by his fruits. The previous passage is about a tree known by its fruit. He must be a good tree. 

Yet, when Jesus signals his willingness to go and cure the slave, the centurion sends another group, his friends, to convince him not to come to his house, for he is not worthy. He argues that he is a military officer who invokes his powers to command and to be obeyed. Jesus can do the same. He has powers, like him. His commands can be executed even at a distance. 

The centurion, though powerful, shows humility. This impresses Jesus. Thus, Jesus heals his servant at a distance, without the usual physical contact, because he has such a faith that is never found anywhere else.
 

Gospel • Lk 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.

Source: “365 Days with the Lord 2023,” St. Paul’s, 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.