Gospel (Mt 8:5-17)

As Jesus entered Capernaum, a centurion came forward to him, beseeching him and saying, “Lord, my servant is lying paralyzed at home, in terrible distress.” And he said to him, “I will come and heal him.” But the centurion answered him, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof; but only say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I am a man under authority, with soldiers under me; and I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes, and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes, and to my slave, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” When Jesus heard him, he marveled, and said to those who followed him, “Truly, I say to you, not even in Israel have I found such faith. I tell you, many will come from east and west and sit at table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven, while the sons of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness; there men will weep and gnash their teeth.”

And to the centurion Jesus said, “Go; be it done for you as you have believed.” And the servant was healed at that very moment.

And when Jesus entered Peter’s house, he saw his mother-in-law lying sick with a fever; he touched her hand, and the fever left her, and she rose and served him. That evening they brought to him many who were possessed with demons; and he cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were sick.

This was to fulfil what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah, “He took our infirmities and bore our diseases.”

Commentary

The centurion’s affection for his servant leads him to approach our Lord. His love for his sick servant enabled him to overcome his human respects.

He also shows great refinement with Jesus. When a Jew entered the house of a Gentile he contracted legal impurity, according to the Law of Moses. Therefore he wanted to save Jesus from having to enter his home.

But above all, the centurion’s faith in Jesus’ power is what we find astonishing. Just as he, a Roman centurion, has power over soldiers, he is aware that God’s power is much greater: whatever Jesus says will be done. And his faith was effective: at that very moment his servant was healed. Jesus is moved by his faith: “Truly I say to you, not even in Israel have I found such faith.” What wonderful praise! Let us ask our Lord for the faith of the centurion.

The Liturgy of the Church makes use of the centurion’s words to enkindle our faith at the moment of receiving Jesus himself in the Holy Eucharist. For our faith also needs to be humble. The centurion’s humility was the door through which our Lord entered, not only to heal the body of the sick person but to enter into the soul of the centurion.

After this first miracle, Jesus heals Peter’s mother-in-law, who then right away begins to serve them. And later He continues to heal the sick and to cast out the evil spirits from those possessed by demons. Jesus is moved by human suffering, and makes it his own: “He took our infirmities and bore our diseases” (cf. Is 53:4)

We too have our own internal illnesses: our sins. Let us turn with faith to our Lord, especially in receiving the Sacraments and in our prayer. When Jesus finds in us the faith of the centurion, when we truly entrust ourselves to Him, He always comes to our assistance.