Our paragraph topic is: (The centurion's faith) Part 1.
We begin a new topic today as Christ begins to move around in the country preaching, and teaching, and making miracles, proving his authority. He enters Capharnaum and a Centurion approaches him saying, "Lord, my servant is lying sick in the house, paralyzed, and is grievously afflicted." Christ says to him, "I will come and cure him.” Christ has just given us an example of the leper who, with great courage and faith, asked Christ, "Lord, if thou wilt." And now a soldier comes to him and asks for help. St Matthew in his writing tells us that the Centurion came to Christ in the first place. After he had tried other means, after he had consulted the physicians of the day, after he had tried all of the remedies known to him, he came to Christ and laid his problem at the feet of the Lord.
The Centurion begins by acknowledging that Christ is Lord. Here is a man who humbles himself by having compassion for his servants. Here is a man who throws off the trappings of office and honor and dignity to show his love for those who serve him. This is his servant, not his wife or son or children, or relative but his servant that he pleads for. His servant is paralyzed, sick in bed, grievously sick on the verge of death and his heart is grieved. His soul is pained. His mind is bereft of the thought of loosing one so dear to him. And yet Christ is there for him.
Christ says, I am ready. Christ says, I will come. Christ says, I feel your pain. Christ says, I know your hurt. Christ says, I will cure him.
Often times we do not get to plead for our loved ones before they die. The thief comes in the night and takes them away without notice and we are left with an empty hole that cries out in pain. Often times it is only after they are gone or during the most dire conditions that we plead with God to save a family member, or a loved one. In most cases we do not plead for a co-worker. We do not plead for those who serve us, the postman, the garbage collector, the meter reader, the store clerk, the cashier, the repairman, the soldier, or anyone who provides service to us today. Yet here is a man of high stature, a centurion, who pleads for his lowly servant that he loves and cares for. It shows a level of humility and compassion that goes beyond title and position. It shows a basic recognition of who we are as human beings, children of God, created in his image. Do you have compassion for your fellow man? Do you have the sensitivity and the humility to care for others or is your world all about you? Christ said, I will come. Will he say the same to you?
