Monday, December 1, 2003
1st Week of Advent

1st Reading: Is 2:1-5
Gospel: Mt 8:5-11

When Jesus entered Capernaum, an army captain approached him to ask his help, "Sir, my servant lies sick at home. He is paralyzed and suffers terribly." Jesus said to him, "I will come and heal him."
The captain answered, "I am not worthy to have you under my roof. Just give an order and my boy will be healed. For I myself, a junior officer, give orders to my soldiers. And if I say to one: 'Go,' he goes, and if I say to another: 'Come,' he comes, and to my servant: 'Do this,' he does it."

When Jesus heard this he was astonished and said to those who were following him, "I tell you, I have not found such faith in Israel. I say to you, many will come from east and west and sit down with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob at the feast in the kingdom of heaven."

Commentary

The faith of the centurion enables Jesus to heal his servant. Faith in Jesus is the basis to foster a new relationship in the building up of the Kingdom of God. In Jesus, everybody is equal in dignity. There is no master or slave, neither Jew nor gentile. Everybody is invited to participate in the great banquet of the Kingdom.

TOP