November 28, 2016
MT 8:5-11
It is the second day of Advent! And in this Gospel, we see yet again underlying message for how we should think in this Advent season. When Jesus entered Capernaum, he was met with a centurion. The centurion approached him and appealed to him, saying he had a servant at home lying paralyzed and suffering dreadfully. The Lord said to him that he would come and cure him. To his response the centurion replied, “Lord I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof, only say the word and my servant will be healed.” The centurion says this to acknowledge that he is a man subject to authority and soldiers subject to me; he is showing his humility very strongly here. Jesus is amazed by what he heard and said to him the following: “Amen, I say to you, in no one in Israel have I found such faith.” He cannot believe what he just witnessed, something he hasn’t really seen until now.
It’s first thing to point out that the centurion’s words should be very familiar to us!! We say these words before we receive the Body and Blood of Jesus. These words illustrate for us a sense of humility; it goes to say that despite our efforts, we sometimes fall short of God’s will. However, God doesn’t judge us by our actions. He continually pours out His love and mercy everyday for us to receive. It ties with the Advent season very much. We should be thankful in this Advent, for our salvation came on Christmas Day. We should also remind ourselves in these four weeks that though we think we are ready to receive God, there may be some things we need to work on. Don’t work yourself up thinking that you are totally ready, because at the end of the day, we are human. Devote time to prayer asking God what it is that you should focus your time on. He will surely show you. Receive God in humility and thankfulness for all that He has done, is doing, and will do in your life.