Readings: Isaiah 2:1-5, Ps. 122:1-2,4-5,6-9, Matthew 8:5-11
“Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths.” (Isaiah 2:3)
Come, Lord Jesus. The light is dying, and the night keeps crying: Come, Lord Jesus. Christ, come quickly; there’s danger at the door, poverty aplenty, hearts gone wild with war, hunger in the city, and famine on the plain. Come, Lord Jesus.
- Advent is a moment to call on Jesus, like the Centurion, who cried to Jesus: “Lord, my servant is lying at home paralysed, in terrible distress” (Matthew 8:6). In seeking Jesus, the Centurion displayed three great virtues: humility, faith, and love. He not only got Jesus’ attention but also obtained healing for his servant.
- The Centurion would not let Jesus come to His house because he felt he was too small to play host to the King of kings and the Lord of lords. He understood the hierarchy of command in the military. He oversaw a hundred soldiers and had superiors to whom he reported. The Centurion figured that Jesus was the “ogakpatakpata-of-them-all”, the one in charge of everybody.
- Note that humility is not thinking less of ourselves; it is thinking big of God. Let us strive to adopt this beautiful mindset this Advent season. We are preparing to celebrate the birth of God, who humbled himself by taking our human nature. We, too, must learn to humble ourselves before God and our fellow human beings.
- The Centurion was not a Jew, yet his faith in Jesus was unshakable. He said: “Only say the word, and my servant will be healed.” He recognised the power of the spoken word, the power by which the whole world was made. There are very few persons Jesus praised for having great faith. The Centurion was one of them.
- Jesus said: “Not even in Isreal have I found such faith.” This brings to mind the danger of over-familiarity. Do not become so used to God to the extent that you now take God for granted. It will be a shame if unbelievers exercise more faith in God than we who pride ourselves as baptised Christians.
- The Centurion was in charge of a hundred soldiers, yet he found time to come looking for Jesus because of one servant, not even his son or a soldier. This reminds us of Jesus’ words to the rich Pharisee who invited him for dinner: “When you give a dinner or a banquet, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your kinsmen or rich neighbours, lest they also invite you in return, and you be repaid. But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed because they cannot repay you. You will be repaid at the resurrection of the just.” (Luke 14:12-14)
- By showing such concern to a servant, the Centurion teaches us what it means to love our neighbour as ourselves. Love is the care you give to those who cannot repay you. It is never about trade-by-barter. As we prepare to welcome Jesus this Christmas, let us see Jesus in our workers. Let us see Jesus in the poor around us.
- “The King will say to those at his right hand, ‘Come, O blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty, and you gave me drink, I was a stranger, and you welcomed me, I was naked, and you clothed me, I was sick, and you visited me, I was in prison, and you came to me.” (Matthew 25:34-36). If we fail to love as the Centurion, our Christmas celebration is deprived of Christ.
- Finally, this encounter between Jesus and the Centurion fulfils God’s promises in today’s First Reading from the Book of Isaiah. The centurion, who was not a Jew, symbolises the many nations and people who would come to the Lord’s Mountain to feast on the rich food God has prepared. Upon seeing the Centurion’s faith, Jesus concluded: “Many will come from east and west and sit at the table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 8:11)
- The Good News for us today is that Jesus is present with us, and we can obtain his healing mercies for ourselves and those dear to us with humility, faith, and love.
Let us pray: Almighty, ever-living God, bring us healing and teach us to trust you like the Centurion. We ask this through Our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God forever and ever. Amen.
Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. May God’s abundant blessings be upon us all. (Monday of the 1st week of Advent. Liturgical Colour: Violet. Bible Study: Isaiah 2:1-5, Ps. 122:1-2,4-5,6-9, Matthew 8:5-11).
@Rev. Fr. Evaristus E. Abu