The Gospel of Matthew, chapter 8:8

The Pagan Centurion, who uttered the above words to Christ, was certainly a man of faith. It took great courage on his part, to come to Jesus for he was probably concerned that he might be rebuffed. He had three strikes against him, so it would seem; for he was, after all, a gentile ( non-Jew), a Pagan and a Roman official ( a high-ranking member of Rome’s occupying forces). Yet, he overcome his doubts and put his faith in Christ. He trusted that Jesus only had to say the word and his beloved servant would be healed. What faith!

Jesus rewarded the faith of the Centurion: “you may go; as you have believed, let it be done for you.” And the gospel adds, “at that very hour his servant was healed.”

The beautiful faith-filled words of the Centurion to Christ, with a slight variation, are used every time mass is celebrated and before the reception of Holy Communion. They are a reminder to us that we are not worthy to receive the body of Christ under the roof of our month: “Lord, I am not worthy to receive you, but only say the word and I shall be healed.”

Everyone is in need of Jesus’ healing touch; whether it be physical, psychological, emotional, or spiritual healing. The Centurion offers an example of living, confident faith in Jesus who, over and over again, instructs us to ‘ask’, ‘knock’, ‘seek’ and ‘find’ whatever it is we need. The Lord may not answer our prayers the way we expect them to be answered, but he will answer them the way we need to have them answered. His response to our prayers may turn a difficult situation into a healing one or it may move us to be more compassionate towards others.

God’s ways are not our ways, but whether we realize it or not, He will reward us for our faith for He is a good and generous God.

Fr. Hugh Duffy

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