The Healing of a centurion’s Servant

Today's Reflections

The Healing of a centurion’s Servant 

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Mt 8:5-11

⁵When [Jesus] entered Capernaum, a centurion approached him and appealed to him, ⁶saying, “Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, suffering dreadfully.” ⁷He said to him, “I will come and cure him.” ⁸The centurion said in reply, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof; only say the word and my servant will be healed. ⁹For I too am a person subject to authority, with soldiers subject to me. And I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come here,’ and he comes; and to my slave, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” ¹⁰When Jesus heard this, he was amazed and said to those following him, “Amen, I say to you, in no one in Israel have I found such faith. ¹¹I say to you, many will come from the east and the west, and will recline with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob at the banquet in the kingdom of heaven.”

Reflection:

My servant is lying at home paralyzed. Would you go out of your way to help someone who is not related to you? Would you sacrifice your time for persons unimportant to you?

This is what the centurion does for his servant. The centurion (from the Latin centum, one hundred) is a Roman officer in command of 100 soldiers. He is a man of authority, a master with power of life and death over people in his charge. Servants have no rights of their own. They are seen not as persons but as objects at the disposal of their masters.

Yet the centurion shows great concern for the welfare of his servant who is thus considered a person, a friend, even a member of the family. In his desire to find healing for his servant, the centurion sets his power, authority, and reputation aside just to approach Jesus. He personally seeks and appeals to Jesus for the health of his servant.

We do not need titles and positions to approach Jesus. We can go to him any time and present our case. He is most certainly pleased with our desire and effort to grow in intimate relationship with him and in service to others.

Do you appreciate the service rendered

by people who work for you

and do you strive to improve their lives?