Homily for Sept. 16th,
2013: Luke 7:1-10.
Palestine was governed by
foreigners in Jesus’ day. Roman soldiers were everywhere. The centurion in
today’s gospel was a military officer, the equivalent of a colonel today.
Unlike most of his colleagues, however, he has taken an interest in the religion
of the people among whom he serves. He finds the Jewish worship of a single God
a refreshing change from the pagan religious system in which he has been brought
up, with its multiple all too human deities who must be kept friendly by
offerings and prayers. “He loves our nation,” his Jewish friends tell Jesus,
“and has built the synagogue for us.”
That was
exceptional indeed. Exceptional too is the concern of this hardened military
officer for his gravely ill slave. Our translation says that the slave was
“valuable” to him. The word Luke uses means that the slave was “very dear” to
his owner. The officer has heard that Jesus can cure people. Aware of the
separation between Jesus and Gentiles, the officer sends “Jewish elders” to
request healing for his dearly loved slave.
When Jesus responds to the request for healing by setting out for the officer’s house, he is met by another
delegation, personal friends of the officer. The message they bring shows the
officer’s knowledge of Jewish law. By entering a Gentile house, a Jew could
become ritually unclean. “I’m not worthy,” he has his friends tell Jesus, for
you to enter my house. Your physical presence isn’t necessary. Your command is
sufficient. And to back this up, the officer has his friends tell Jesus: ‘I
understand the power of command. I use it all the time, telling my subordinates
to do this and that. They obey at once.’ Jesus is “amazed” at the officer’s
faith, Luke tells us, so different from the refusal of belief in many of Jesus’
own people.
What about us? Do we have such faith?
What better prayer could we offer
at this Mass than that of another petitioner for healing:
“Lord, I believe; help my unbelief” (Mark 9:24).
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