Tag: centurion

“Only say the word.” | Monday of the First Week of Advent

From the Gospel acclamation: “Come and save us, LORD our God; Let your face shine upon us, that we may be saved.”

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew (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.”

Although Jesus is willing to go to the servant’s house, the centurion feels unworthy to have him under his roof. He asks Jesus to simply speak a word of healing, drawing on his experience as a leader and as one who leads others. He trusts the authority of Jesus and has faith in him. Jesus is amazed by this and turns to those following him, witnesses to the centurion’s faith, and says, “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.” We hear also in the first reading the hope of having the Lord enter under our roof, as Isaiah prays, “O house of Jacob, come, let us walk in the light of the LORD!”

God, let me follow the centurion’s example of faith and trust in the word of Jesus to heal me. In the Gospel, the servant is “lying at home paralyzed, suffering dreadfully.” I am sure there will be moments throughout the day when I am completely stuck, stifled by uncertainty and wondering where you are and how to move toward you. I may be paralyzed in that moment, but you are not. Give me the grace to remember this prayer and bear witness to your mercy: Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Maximilian Kolbe Shrine—Blessed Sacrament

“Young man, I tell you, arise!” | Tuesday of the Twenty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time

From the responsorial psalm: “Sing joyfully to the LORD, all you lands; serve the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful song. We are his people: the sheep of his flock.”

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke (Lk 7:11-17)

When the Lord saw her, he was moved with pity for her and said to her, “Do not weep.” He stepped forward and touched the coffin; at this the bearers halted, and he said, “Young man, I tell you, arise!” The dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother.

As Jesus and the disciples and the large crowd that followed him approach the gates of the city called Nain, they see a man being carried out in a funeral. He was the only son of a widow. Moved with pity for the mother, Jesus touches the coffin and commands that the man rise, which bringing him back to life immediately. Jesus then gives the son to his mother. the people who witnessed this are terrified, and they glorify God, exclaiming, “A great prophet has arisen in our midst.” The voice who says, Young man, arise” is the same who said: Let there be light. And there was light. “Who shut within doors the sea, when it burst forth from the womb?”

God, help me see in the compassion of Jesus and the truth of the Gospel that you are Lord of the living and not of the dead. Luke takes great care to describe the reaction of the crowd that witnessed Jesus bringing the dead man back to life. This is not a cleverly devised myth, but a witness of Jesus to the crowd that what he does for the young man, you do for him in his resurrection. Lord, give me the same fear and amazement the people experienced, as they exclaimed: “God has visited his people.” Saint Hildegard pray for us!

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

“Lord, do not trouble yourself.” | Memorial of Saints Cornelius, Pope, and Cyprian, Bishop, Martyrs

From the responsorial psalm: “Sacrifice or oblation you wished not, but ears open to obedience you gave me. Burnt offerings or sin offerings you sought not; then said I, “Behold I come.” Proclaim the death of the Lord until he comes again.”

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke (Lk 7:1-10)

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.”

As Jesus approaches the centurion’s house, the centurion’s friends go and tell Jesus not to trouble himself to come in. Expressing his understanding of authority, the centurion gives as an example his commands to the soldiers, who obey him. He believes that Jesus can heal his servant by only speaking a word. Amazed at his words, Jesus says, “I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such faith.” When the friends return to the centurion’s home, they find the servant has been healed, confirming Jesus’ authority and the necessity of faith. We say the same words as the centurion at every Mass, expressing faith and the desire for unity, just before we receive Communion: “Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed.”

God, help me reflect throughout the day on the faith of the centurion. Help me realize that I can choose to keep you away from my door or invite you in. In beholding the Lamb of God—the unity of the Church through the presence of the Body of Christ—I ask for the grace to choose always to let you in. Saint Cyprian said: “Can anyone believe that he himself sticks fast to the faith without sticking fast to this unity of the Church? Can someone be confident that he himself is in the Church if he offers resistance to the Church and opposes her.” Saints Cornelius and Cyprian, pray for us!

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

“You have revealed them to the childlike.” | Tuesday of the First Week of Advent

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke (Lk 10:21-24)

Jesus rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, “I give you praise, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to the childlike.”

As the seventy-two disciples sent out to proclaim the kingdom of God return, Jesus praises his Father for their childlike faith. What is hidden from the wise and the learned, God reveals to his servants. What prophets and kings could only dream of seeing and hearing, God blesses with the supernatural vision of faith in his Son. “No one knows who the Son is except the Father,” Jesus tells the disciples, “and who the Father is except the Son and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him.” In being sent out, the seventy-two put faith into practice and see God’s kingdom being established as Jesus reveals to them his Father.

God, in humble obedience the first disciples followed Jesus throughout his ministry. Help me rely less on myself and live more simply for you as a disciple of your Son. Give me understanding to see the limited value of human wisdom and open my eyes to the revelation that you are the limitless source of all truth. In Jesus is the truth, and the person of Christ is truth itself. As the disciples were blessed in seeing Jesus in person, Jesus blesses me with his real presence in the Eucharist and in the Blessed Sacrament. In childlike faith, give me the grace to recognize the gift given by you and the humility to understand the words of Jesus: “All things have been handed over to me by my Father.”

From the responsorial psalm: “He shall rescue the poor when he cries out, and the afflicted when he has no one to help him. He shall have pity for the lowly and the poor; the lives of the poor he shall save. Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace for ever.” Spirit of the Lord, rest upon me.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

“Only say the word.” | Monday of the First Week of Advent

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew (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.”

We hear these words of the Roman centurion at every Mass when we say, “Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed.” The centurion, who understands the authority behind a command, demonstrates great faith in Jesus in trusting him to heal his servant with his word alone. “For I too am a man subject to authority,” he says, “with soldiers subject to me.” Amazed at his faith, Jesus states that he has not found such faith in all of Israel, emphasizing the inclusion of all in God’s Kingdom. The servant at home paralyzed, suffers dreadfully. In response to our prayers or the prayers of others, Christ comes under our roof to say the word and heal our souls.

God, in the mystery of suffering I often fail to see you or to find a way to see you. The story of the centurion is an example of why sight fails me at those times. Is it that when I look inward at my own suffering I fail to see the suffering of others? For the sake of his servant, the centurion sought out Jesus as he entered Capernaum, as if to suggest the centurion was keen for his arrival. To be certain, a handful of sufferings will come this day, taking my attention away from the needs of others close to me. Help me remember throughout the day that in praying that you free others from their suffering, you free me from the isolating paralysis of self-absorption. Heal me, Lord, from anything that would prevent me from seeing how badly others need you to come under their roof to save them.

From the Gospel acclamation: “Come and save us, LORD our God; Let your face shine upon us, that we may be saved.” Lord, guard me today with your word and by it bring your healing presence.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Monday of the Twenty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke (Lk 7:1-10)

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.”

In today’s Gospel, a Roman centurion has a servant who is gravely ill. The centurion, recognizing Jesus’ reputation as a healer, sends Jewish elders to request Jesus’ help. Although the centurion was a Gentile and part of the occupying Roman military, he demonstrates faith and humility in seeking the aid of Jesus. Luke tells us, in fact, that he loves the Jewish community and had built the synagogue for them. The centurion is confident in the chain of command and obedience, something he learned as a soldier who issues commands and follows them. So when he comes to Jesus to ask for his help, he is able to give wholehearted trust in Jesus’ authority.

Father in heaven, let me come to you with the same confidence and trust as the centurion. His words are the very words spoken during the Mass after the priest elevates the body of Christ in the sacred host and the chalice of the blood of Christ saying, “Behold the Lamb of God.” At this moment, Christ is present at the altar in the transubstantiation of bread and wine into the body and blood of Christ. The congregation responds, “Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed.” When I say these words—and I have to stop to think about this—I am speaking to the same person of Christ that the centurion came to for divine assistance. Give me the grace, Lord, to recognize this the next time I am at Mass; that you are truly present. Just as you were amazed at the faith of the centurion, through your grace may I have the same absolute trust in the power of your word.

From the first reading: “For there is one God. There is also one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as ransom for all.”

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Saturday of the Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew

When it was evening, they brought [Jesus] many who were possessed by demons, and he drove out the spirits by a word and cured all the sick, to fulfill what had been said by Isaiah the prophet: He took away our infirmities and bore our diseases.

In today’s Gospel, Jesus enters Capernaum and encounters the centurion whose servant was at his home, paralyzed and suffering. Amazed at the centurion’s faith and without going to see the servant, Jesus heals him with the words “You may go; as you have believed, let it be done for you.” As Jesus enters Peter’s house, Peter’s mother-in-law lies in bed with a fever. As Jesus touches her hand, Matthew tells us, the fever left her. In both of these miraculous healings, Jesus merely says a word or touches to restore the servant and Peter’s mother-in-law. Matthew says that “by a word” Jesus drove out demons and healed the sick. With complete faith in the Lord and with only a word from him, what is there he cannot accomplish?

Lord, help me recognize your power to heal, your willingness to extend your healing to all, and the importance of faith in receiving your healing. Just as in yesterday’s reading as Jesus says to the leper “I do will it,” today he shows his compassion, authority, and his mission to bring salvation to all and to restore them to him. God, with the same faith as the centurion, give me the grace to say, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof; only say the word and my servant will be healed.”

From the Gospel acclamation: “Christ took away our infirmities and bore our diseases.”

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Monday of the Twenty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time

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.

The Gospel reading and first reading for today contain familiar words that are heard at Mass: from Paul, “This is my Body that is for you”; and from Luke, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof.“ In a way, the readings are stories of unity and division. Saint Paul tells us how the early church had divisions in it in the way they practiced the Eucharist, or, as he calls it, the Last supper. His letter to the members of that community recalls Jesus’ institution of the Eucharist. In the Gospel passage, the Roman centurion asks for Jesus to come and save the life of his slave. The elders among the Jewish community in Capernaum tell Jesus that he deserves this “for he loves our nation and he built the synagogue for us.” This depiction of unity between a Roman soldier and the Jewish people contrasts with the inner division Saint Paul describes. Today I am certain the choice to foster division or unity will present itself to me in various ways. How will I respond?

How is it possible that among the Romans who occupied Jerusalem and brought Jesus to his crucifixion there were those who supported and brought unity to the Jewish people and the practice of their faith? In my own life, God, help me understand the words and actions of mine that create either unity or division. What is at stake is something great—whether I share the breaking of the Eucharistic bread to bring Christ present or whether I abandon or forget it. There is more to this than I understand.

Lord, I feel the weight of the day, the weight of the week on my shoulders. I know it’s never as bad as it seems. Be present with me today as I remember you in the Eucharist and ask for your help to know and do your will, whether that brings unity or division.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Readings