September 17, 2018

Today’s gospel: Luke 7:1-10

Our continuing call is to be holy warriors. And for our theme this year, we look to that holy warrior, Joshua, who led God’s people to take the land promised by God to them. He had told them, “As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” Today’s gospel is about the healing of a centurion’s slave. But it is really about the faith of the centurion. He epitomized being a holy warrior.

First, he looked to Jesus. Though he did not get to meet Jesus, he exhibited all the right responses of one who has met Jesus and whose life is being transformed by 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.” (v.3). He heard about Jesus and he put his faith in him. And as his slave “was ill and about to die” (v.2a), he was looking to Jesus for life, trusting in his power to save. He said, “but say the word and let my servant be healed.” (v.7b). And though he was a man of authority, he knew who was the greater person of authority, saying “I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof.” (v.6b). He exhibited humility before the Lord. “Therefore, I did not consider myself worthy to come to you” (v.7a). Though the centurion did not meet Christ, he had faith in Christ, much more than even those who were the chosen people of God. Jesus told the crowd, “I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such faith.” (v.9b).

Second, he looked to and cared for his household. Even his slave “was valuable to him.” (v.2b). Slaves at that time were just commodities. And if they were ill or no longer able to function well, they would just be discarded. But the centurion went out of his way to help his slave. He even used his authority and connections, as “he sent elders of the Jews to (Jesus)” (v.3a). If he cared that much for a slave, how much more would he have taken care of his family?

Third, he was already serving the Lord. Even though he was a gentile, the Jewish elders said of him, “he loves our nation and he built the synagogue for us.” (v.5).

The centurion had not met Christ, but he knew Christ, and he was in effect already living Christ. Here was a Roman warrior. “For I too am a person subject to authority, with soldiers subject to me.” (v.8a). With his faith in Jesus, he was destined to be a holy warrior. These holy warriors would bring the faith to the ends of the earth. Rome did eventually become, as it is today, the center of our Catholic faith.

* * *