Contemplating today's Gospel
Today's Gospel + homily (in 300 words)
Abraham hastened into the tent and told Sarah, «Quick, three measures of fine flour! Knead it and make rolls». He ran to the herd, picked out a tender, choice steer, and gave it to a servant, who quickly prepared it. Then Abraham got some curds and milk, as well as the steer that had been prepared, and set these before them; and he waited on them under the tree while they ate.
They asked him, «Where is your wife Sarah?». He replied, «There in the tent». One of them said, «I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah will then have a son». Sarah was listening at the entrance of the tent, just behind him. Now Abraham and Sarah were old, advanced in years, and Sarah had stopped having her womanly periods. So Sarah laughed to herself and said, «Now that I am so withered and my husband is so old, am I still to have sexual pleasure?».
But the Lord said to Abraham: «Why did Sarah laugh and say, ‘Shall I really bear a child, old as I am?’. Is anything too marvelous for the Lord to do? At the appointed time, about this time next year, I will return to you, and Sarah will have a son». Because she was afraid, Sarah dissembled, saying, «I didn’t laugh». But he replied, «Yes you did».
For he has looked with favor on his lowly servant. From this day all generations will call me blessed: the Almighty has done great things for me, and holy is his Name.
He has mercy on those who fear him in every generation. He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty.
He has come to the help of his servant Israel for he has remembered his promise of mercy, the promise he made to our fathers, to Abraham and his children for ever.
Jesus entered the house of Peter, and saw his mother-in-law lying in bed with a fever. He touched her hand, the fever left her, and she rose and waited on him. When it was evening, they brought him many who were possessed by demons, and he drove out the spirits by a word and cured all the sick, to fulfill what had been said by Isaiah the prophet: He took away our infirmities and bore our diseases.
“Lord, I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof; only say the word and my servant will be healed”
Fr. Xavier JAUSET i Clivillé (Lleida, Spain)Today, in the Gospel, we see the love, faith, trust, and humility of a centurion who feels a deep esteem for his servant. He is so worried about him that he is able to humble himself before Jesus and ask his help: "Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, suffering dreadfully" (Mt 8,6). This concern for others, especially a servant, elicits a prompt response from Jesus: "I will come and cure him" (Mt 8,7). And it all leads to a series of acts of faith and trust. The centurion does not consider himself worthy, and alongside this sentiment, he demonstrates his faith to Jesus and all who were present, so much so that Jesus says, "Amen, I say to you, in no one in Israel have I found such faith” (Mt 8,10).
We can ask ourselves what moves Jesus to perform the miracle. How many times do we ask, and it seems that God does not attend to us! Even though we know that God always listens to us. So, what is happening? We believe we are asking correctly, but are we doing it like the centurion? His prayer is not selfish, but it is full of love, humility, and trust. Saint Peter Chrysologus says: “The law of love is not concerned with what will be, what ought to be, what can be. Love does not reflect; it is unreasonable and knows no moderation. Love refuses to be consoled when its goal proves impossible, despises all hindrances to the attainment of its object.” Is that how my prayer is?
“Lord, I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof…” (Mt 8,8). That is the centurion's response. Are those your feelings? Is your faith like this? In the words of Saint Maximus: “Only faith can explain this mystery. Faith is true knowledge, the principles of which are beyond rational demonstration; for faith makes real for us things beyond intellect and reason.” If so, you will also hear, “‘You may go; as you have believed, let it be done for you.’ And at that very hour his servant was healed” (Mt 8,13).
Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God, Master of faith, hope, and loving care, teach us to pray as we should to obtain from the Lord all that we need.
Thoughts on Today's Gospel
“The faith of this centurion presages the faith of the nations, like a grain of mustard seed, a faith both humble and fervent.” (Saint Augustine)
“Jesus marveled at faith of the centurion. The centurion made a journey to meet the Lord, but he made it in faith. Therefore, he not only encountered the Lord, but he came to know the joy of being encountered by him.” (Francis)
“Everyone is called to enter the kingdom. First announced to the children of Israel, this messianic kingdom is intended to accept men of all nations (Cf. Mt 8:11). To enter it, one must first accept Jesus' word.” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, Nº 543)
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