Advent Wk 1st: Monday 4th December, 2023 December 4, 2023
Reflection on the WORD
Centurion’s Faith: In today’s Gospel, the Roman centurion pleaded with Jesus to cure his dying servant. Ponder on: The centurion’s deep faith and humility, moved him to trust in Jesus’ Divine Power to cure his servant even at a distance. Jesus praised him for his great faith. Is our faith like the centurion’s: deep, humble and creative?
Matthew 8:5-11
When Jesus went into Capernaum a centurion came up and pleaded with him. ‘Sir,’ he said, ‘my servant is lying at home paralysed and in great pain.’ Jesus said to him, ‘I will come myself and cure him.’
The centurion replied, ‘Sir, I am not worthy to have you under my roof; just give the word and my servant will be cured. For I am under authority myself and have soldiers under me; and I say to one man, “Go,” and he goes; to another, “Come here,” and he comes; to my servant, “Do this,” and he does it.’
When Jesus heard this he was astonished and said to those following him, ‘In truth I tell you, in no one in Israel have I found faith as great as this.’
Today's Pointers on God's Word
As you read the passage what words, phases or meanings caught your attention?
- The Centurion in the Gospel was able to recognize the authority and the divinity of Jesus, the prophet that everyone acknowledges.
- Even though He likened his own power with that of Jesus, he knew that the real power to save his servant can only come from Jesus. His “power” is limited, but Jesus’ power is infinite.
- Jesus praised him for both his faith in Him and his compassionate love for his servant. How many of us will do this for our maid and people who are of a lower social class than us e.g. a beggar?