MONDAY SEPTEMBER 16, 2024
MONDAY OF THE TWENTY FOURTH WEEK OF THE ORDINARY TIME B
SS CORNELIUS, Pp. M., & CYPRIAN, B.M. (MEMORIAL)
1 Corinthians 11:17-26 33
Luke 7:1-10
THE CENTURION: DEMONSTRATING FAITH , CHARITY AND HUMILITY
The great encounter of this Roman Centurion with Jesus teaches us great virtues of Faith, Charity, humility and veritable and gracious ways to live the ideal Christian life.
These virtues that the Centurion demonstrated came naturally and with great spontaneity. It was part of his character and being. He did not force it or pretend to possess these. In his charitable way, the recourse to Jesus is attested to by the fact that he was genuinely concerned about the plight of his servant. He cares about the well-being of his servant and he seeks help from all angles and then asks the help of Jesus. Even the people recognizes his contributions to the society and attest to the fact that he built their synagogue. His generosity to the people is unequalled and they gave their testimony of it.
This heart of love and charity is one aspect of the journey of life that Christians are expected to possess. That we must be charitable, concerned for the wellbeing of our own people, our workers, our relatives and our dear ones without discrimination. That is the message of the Centurion to us. Be caring, loving, and seek the happiness and good health and peace of others.
The Centurion’s humility is another virtue that we are called to emulate and his recognition of the powers of Jesus. His words acknowledging the supremacy of Jesus and his unworthiness to receive Jesus in his home. This has become prayer for us in welcoming Jesus before the reception of Holy Communion in the Church. We recall our unworthiness, “Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed.”
The prayer exhumes faith and humility. But in humility this Centurion uttered this request and goes ahead to declare his total faith and trust in the command to be issued by Jesus. He establishes and likens Jesus’ powers and authorities to his own chain of commands. Because as a Centurion, he controls battalion of army of eighty persons and thereabout. And he issued instructions to them and they must obey him.
Likewise, he transfers this experience of his chain of command to the authority and powers of Jesus. He knows that Jesus can as well issue same commands to the sickness and all under him and they will respect and obey him. Meaning that he believes that Jesus has powers over all sicknesses, all infirmities, all afflictions and all oppressive spirit. That by issuing his command, all these will listen and obey Jesus. He wishes and even stops Jesus from tasking himself coming to his house because he is even unworthy to receiving him thereby showing his humility before Jesus and also declaring strong faith in Jesus. This level of faith was acknowledged by Jesus as never been seen anywhere in Israel.
This same humility, charity and faith is being urged by Paul in the Corinthian community especially when they gather for the Eucharistic celebration.
And in all these, the Centurions request was attended to and Jesus demonstrated that such kind of faith, humility and charity is what exalts us and worthy of emulation.
Heavenly Father, we begin this day and week with the faith of the Centurion, with great trust in you and total surrender to your will in our lives. We pray for the spirit of humility, and greater sense of charity to our fellow men and women as the Centurion cared for his servant. Grant that we may possess faith to trust, humility to acknowledge our unworthiness and charity to live out his love over us through Christ Jesus our Lord.
Fr Norbert Uchuno
