Daily Reflection – Nov 28, 2016

Monday 28 November 2016

First Reading: Isaiah 4:2-6
Responsorial Psalm:
Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord
Psalm 121(122):1-2, 4-5, 6-9
Gospel Reading: Matthew 8:5-11

Today’s Note: Monday of the First Week in Advent

Gospel Reading:

When Jesus entered Capernaum,
a centurion approached him and appealed to him, saying,
“Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, suffering dreadfully.”
He said to him, “I will come and cure him.”
The centurion said in reply,
“Lord, I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof;
only say the word and my servant will be healed.
For I too am a man subject to authority,
with soldiers subject to me.
And I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes;
and to another, ‘Come here,’ and he comes;
and to my slave, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”
When Jesus heard this, he was amazed and said to those following him,
“Amen, I say to you, in no one in Israel have I found such faith.
I say to you, many will come from the east and the west,
and will recline with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob
at the banquet in the Kingdom of heaven.”

Reflection:

Isaiah foretells the coming of Jesus. The God who is to come will teach that disagreements between nations must be solved by peaceful means, not war. This is the revolutionary way in which God will go about settling arguments. Regardless of where we are born, we are all invited to come to the house of God and follow Him.

The centurion who approached Jesus had come to Israel from Rome as part of an army of occupation. Nevertheless he had great faith in Jesus. He was convinced that Jesus had the power to cure his sick servant. Jesus, impressed by this Roman citizen’s faith, states that everyone, irrespective of birth, is welcome in God’s house.

As long as we have faith in Him we are welcome to share His home at any time and for all time. The centurion’s understanding of his own power position helped him to believe in Jesus’ power and authority. People carried out the centurion’s orders because of his power and authority. Likewise, the centurion assumed that since Jesus had so much power, it would be a simple thing for him to wish the centurion’s servant to be cured and the servant would be cured. The centurion had complete faith in the power and authority of Jesus. His faith was rewarded.

“Lord, help us to follow the centurion’s example of faith in Your power to help us.”