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Commentary on the Gospel for September 16, 2024
Dear friends,
Today, Luke introduces us to a special Roman centurion, one who deeply cares for his servant and shows great concern for those less fortunate. This centurion demonstrates two essential human qualities that allow God to work in us: humility and faith.
Just as a light bulb needs electricity to shine and a combustion engine needs gasoline to run, God’s grace needs to be fueled by our faith in order to perform miracles and wonders.
Humility: “I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof.”
The centurion would have been a high-ranking officer in the Roman army, very aware of his power. But this power had not corrupted him; on the contrary, it had given him an awareness of others and a humility to serve them. Humility, because even though he was a centurion and a Roman, who at that time dominated the Jewish people, he did not order Jesus around as if he were an equal or a person of lower rank. Quite the opposite. He humbled himself before Jesus and, shedding his status as a ruler of people, recognized his own need for Him.
Faith: “Just say the word, and my servant will be healed.”
The centurion expresses a sincere faith, a trust and confidence that it will happen. A faith that not only sympathizes but seeks a solution; a faith that is a determined effort to help the poor servant, so much so that the Lord Himself marvels at his faith. The centurion trusts Jesus completely. Faith, because the centurion believed with all his heart that Jesus could heal his servant. He did not doubt Jesus’ power in his heart. Otherwise, he would not have been able to draw this grace from His Divine mercy.
That is why faith and humility are the perfect combination for God to grant His most beautiful graces to the people who ask for them.
In the Eucharist, we say the centurion’s prayer before receiving Communion: “Lord, I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed.”
This prayer expresses our imperfection before Jesus and our faith, humility, and trust in Jesus’ healing grace, which in every Communion heals us – makes us whole – just as He healed the centurion’s servant. How important it is to be aware that only Jesus heals us, frees us, purifies us, and sanctifies us! As Paul said, “By the grace of God I am what I am.” And St. John: “Apart from me you can do nothing.”
Your brother,