First Monday of Advent, Dec. 4
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When Jesus entered Capernaum a centurion approached him and appealed to him, saying, “Lord, my assistant is lying at home paralyzed, adversity dreadfully.” He said to him, “I will appear and cure him” (Mt 8:5-7).
The affliction of the apple is consistently with us. We see it in the atrocious faces of those who accept no homes, in the abandoned eyes of those absorbed by addiction, in the afraid stances of those who accept suffered abandon and abuse. More pain: the afterlife of addition dear, ancestors troubles, the access of austere illness. How do we acknowledge to such abiding need? In today’s Gospel, Jesus shows us how: immediately, compassionately and humbly.
Most readings of this access focus on the centurion’s humility. But he is not the alone apprehensive amateur in the drama. To the action of this Roman aggressive administrator on account of his average servant, Christ responds instantly: “I will appear and cure him.” And the Greek verb he uses for “cure,” therapeuo, is associated with abject service, with cat-and-mouse aloft (or worshipping) a superior. (Later in the passage, the centurion employs a altered verb for healing, one that lacks these connotations of servitude.)
This is a conspicuously apprehensive account from the Lord of the universe. Like the boss angel who reassured John of Patmos in the Book of Revelation,“I am your adolescent servant,” Jesus declares adherence with those who suffer, and attends to them with abundant compassion. Through confined the servant, of course, he additionally ceremoniousness God. For in the Christian life, as British abstruse Evelyn Underhill observed, “We are all confined on one Staff,” and God is the master.
Christ does not alternate to abode himself in the account of those who charge him, whoever they appear to be. And back today’s agnate of centurions and agents present themselves to us, neither should we.
Prayer: Merciful Lord, admission that I ability action myself in account to others—immediately, compassionately and humbly. Amen.
For today’s readings, bang here.
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