Readings: Is. 4:2-6; Ps.122; Matt 8:5-11
Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.
THE FAITH OF A ROMAN CENTURION
In our catechism class, we were taught that faith is a supernatural gift of God, a supernatural virtue infused in us by God. Little wonder our levels of faith are not the same. However, our gift of faith grows depending on our disposition and utilisation of the gift. That is why, when Jesus invites people to faith and conversion, he does not coerce them; rather, they come to faith through their disposition and utilisation 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, he approached Jesus for healing, but when Jesus accepted to come to his home, the centurion hesitates, feeling unworthy of Jesus’ presence in his home, said to him “Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof; but only speak the word, and my servant will be healed”.
Here, the centurion believed that Jesus could speak a word of healing, and that would 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 have 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 have become a pattern of prayer for us, that before receiving Holy Communion we say it passionately because his faith and compassion are inspiring examples for us to follow.
This is exactly the kind of faith that all of us must have as well especially in this Advent season. 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 to lead us into faithlessness, disobedience and sin against God.
And when this is done, we can understand the message of Prophet Isaiah in the first reading today, when he said that the branch of the Lord shall be beauty and glory, and the fruit of the earth shall be the pride and adornment of Israel’s survivors. Those who are left of Zion and remain of Jerusalem shall be called holy.
Dear friends, let us learn to put into action the gift of faith that the Lord has given us, just like this Roman Centurion. But the questions we need to ask ourselves are: do we still have total faith and trust in God just like the centurion? What is our disposition towards the gift of faith that God has given us? Do you know that our experiences of evil, injustice, suffering and death can shake or shape the gift of faith in us depending on our disposition.
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, recognise in all humility our unworthiness before God? We are called today to learn from this man’s act of humility and faith.
LET US PRAY: Lord God, we are weak, and oftentimes we display an act of faithlessness due to the pressure and challenges of life. As we embrace the season of Advent, may you increase our faith and make us humble and patient. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Have a blessed month.
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