Faith Of The Centurion

September 13, 2021, Monday
Memorial of Saint John Chrysostom, Bishop and Doctor of the Church (White)
CYCLE B - YEAR I
Lectionary: 443

Reading I
1 Tm 2:1-8

Beloved:
First of all, I ask that supplications, prayers,
petitions, and thanksgivings be offered for everyone,
for kings and for all in authority,
that we may lead a quiet and tranquil life
in all devotion and dignity. 
This is good and pleasing to God our savior,
who wills everyone to be saved
and to come to knowledge of the truth.
    For there is one God.
    There is also one mediator between God and men,
    the man Christ Jesus,
    who gave himself as ransom for all.
This was the testimony at the proper time. 
For this I was appointed preacher and Apostle
(I am speaking the truth, I am not lying),
teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.
It is my wish, then, that in every place the men should pray,
lifting up holy hands, without anger or argument. 

Responsorial Psalm
28:2, 7, 8-9

R.    (6) Blessed be the Lord, for he has heard my prayer.

Hear the sound of my pleading, when I cry to you,
    lifting up my hands toward your holy shrine.

R.    Blessed be the Lord, for he has heard my prayer.

The LORD is my strength and my shield.
In him my heart trusts, and I find help;
    then my heart exults, and with my song I give him thanks.

R.    Blessed be the Lord, for he has heard my prayer.

The LORD is the strength of his people,
    the saving refuge of his anointed.
Save your people, and bless your inheritance;
    feed them, and carry them forever!

R.    Blessed be the Lord, for he has heard my prayer.

Alleluia
Jn 3:16

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

God so loved the world that he gave his only-begotten Son,
so that everyone who believes in him might have eternal life.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

GOSPEL
Lk 7:1-10

When Jesus had finished all his words to the people,
he entered Capernaum.
A centurion there had a slave who was ill and about to die,
and he was valuable to him.
When he heard about Jesus, he sent elders of the Jews to him,
asking him to come and save the life of his slave.
They approached Jesus and strongly urged him to come, saying,
“He deserves to have you do this for him,
for he loves our nation and he built the synagogue for us.”
And Jesus went with them,
but when he was only a short distance from the house,
the centurion sent friends to tell him,
“Lord, do not trouble yourself,
for I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof.
Therefore, I did not consider myself worthy to come to you;
but say the word and let my servant be healed.
For 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.”
When Jesus heard this he was amazed at him
and, turning, said to the crowd following him,
“I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such faith.”
When the messengers returned to the house,
they found the slave in good health.

REFLECTION:

Jesus says some very surprising words of the Roman centurion, 'In no one in Israel have I found such faith'. He praises the unique faith of a pagan. We often ask ourselves what faith really is, and we may sometimes think that our faith is practically non-existent. And what of the faith of those who belong to other religions or who claim they are unbelievers or atheists? I remember that Jesus said that it is enough if my faith is as big as mustard seed, and thank God for this great gift.

The centurion displayed a great compassion for his servant. I allow my heart to be moved as I think of those in need. I bring their needs before God.

Bring your infirmities, physical and psychological, before Jesus with faith that he can heal them.

PRAYER:

Lord, I can receive you in Holy Communion day by day. May I welcome you with the same reverence as the Roman, and the same expectation that you will bring healing.