Homily For Monday Twenty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time Year B, 16th September, 2024. The Memorial of SS. Cornelius and Cyprian

 

Reading: 1Cor. 11:17-26.33; Ps. 40; Luke 7:1-10

Rev.  Fr. Emmanuel Emenike  Onyia

 

LORD ONLY SAY THE WORD AND MY SERVANT SHALL BE HEALED: THE FAITH OF THE CENTURION

 

The doctrines of the Church teaches us that faith is a supernatural gift of God, a supernatural virtue infused in us by God. Little wonder our level of faith are not the same. However, our gift of faith grows depending on our disposition and utilization of the gift. That is why, when Jesus invites people to faith and conversion, he does not coerced them, rather they come to faith through their good disposition and utilization of their experience with him.

 

This is exactly the case with the Roman centurion in our Gospel passage today, who sorts help for his sick servant through some Jewish elders whom he sent to Jesus to ask him to come and heal his servant, but when Jesus accepted to come to his home, the centurion hesitates, feeling unworthy of Jesus’ presence in his home, said to him “Lord, do not trouble yourself, for I am not worthy to have you come under my roof; therefore I did not presume to come to you. But only speak the word, and my servant will be healed”. 

 

Here the centurion believes that Jesus can speak a word of healing, and that will be enough to cure his servant. He has total faith and trust in the power of Jesus’ word. For him, the servant did not even need to hear Jesus speak the word: it was enough that the word was spoken. Jesus praised his faith and genuine humility. Today, these words of the centurion has become a pattern of prayer for us, that before Holy Communion we say it passionately because, his faith and intercessions are inspiring example for us to follow.

 

This is exactly the kind of faith that all of us must have as well. The faith that leads us to seek God wholeheartedly, to be humble before Him and to love Him above all and not to allow our pride, ego and desires lead us into faithlessness, disobedience and sin against God. We are also called to trust God at all times, for St Paul in our first reading today said:  I cannot say that you have done well in holding meetings that do you more harm than good, for  what I received from the Lord, I in turn passed on to you.

 

Dear friends, what is our disposition towards the gift of faith that God has given us? Do we have total faith and trust in God just like the Centurion? The fact remains that our experiences of evil, injustice, suffering and death can shake or shape the gift of faith in us depending on our disposition. Remember, the Centurion interceded for his sick servant, do we intercede for others who are in need of God’s healing and mercy? Do we know that we can speak God’s word in prayer and someone, somewhere, will find healing? Do we often like this Centurion, recognize in all humility our unworthiness before God? 

 

We are called today to learn from this man’s act of humility, faith and intercessory gifts just like SS. Cornelius and Cyprian whose memorial we celebrate today. For they were holy servants of God who dedicated their lives to the service to God and their neighbour. And for this they died as martyrs under great persecution for they stood firm in their faith and hope which is rooted in their love of God and neighbours.

 

LET US PRAY: Heavenly Father, we are weak and oftentimes we display an act of faithlessness due to the pressure and challenges of life. Through the intercession of SS. Cornelius and Cyprian may the Lord increase our faith and make us humble and patience in doing his will. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Do have a fruitful week.