REFLECTIONS TODAY
Jews looked down on the Gentiles (pagans) as idolaters and licentious people. In the words of Paul, idolaters exchanged the glory of the immortal God for the likeness of an image of mortal man or of birds or animals, and God has abandoned them over to degrading passion (Rom 1:23- 24). In Galilee where many Gentiles lived, the Galileans (Jews) stayed away from them. The pagan centurion knows these boundaries. He sees Jesus as a prophet of Israel, a powerful man of God, and despite his own probable allegiance to the pagan divinities, appeals to Jesus to attend to his paralyzed servant. Aware of the divide between Jews and Gentiles, he feels unworthy to have Jesus under his roof. But he knows the power of the word of command. He uses it on his soldiers who do his bidding. And Jesus’ word has power, he being the prophet of God. So he asks Jesus only to “say the word” (v 8) and his servant will be healed. Jesus marvels at such faith and confidence in him. This man of authority, who sees greater authority in Jesus as a man of God, has greater faith in him than so many Jews. This faith leads to the healing of the paralyzed servant and breaks down the divide between the Gentiles and the Jews. In Jesus, all are welcome in the Kingdom of God.
We repeat the words of the centurion when receiving Jesus in Holy Communion. With what disposition do you receive the Lord in the Holy Eucharist?
First Reading • Is 2:1-5
This is what Isaiah, son of Amoz, saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem.
In days to come, the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established as the highest mountain and raised above the hills. All nations shall stream toward it; many peoples shall come and say: “Come, let us climb the Lord’s mountain, to the house of the God of Jacob, That he may instruct us in his ways, and we may walk in his paths.” For from Zion shall go forth instruction, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. He shall judge between the nations, and impose terms on many peoples. They shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks; One nation shall not raise the sword against another, nor shall they train for war again.
O house of Jacob, come, let us walk in the light of the Lord!
Responsorial Psalm • Ps 122
“Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.”
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 man 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.”