Subj: MATTHEW 8:5-11: MONDAY'S GOSPEL FOR REFLECTION
Date: 11/28/98 8:11:03 PM Pacific Standard Time
From: mtuazon@ix.netcom.com (Manuel Tuazon)
Reply-to: early-word@cin.org
To: early-word@cin.org
[Note: The scheduled Reading for today, Isaiah 4:2-6, is taken from
the Old Testament. The "Navarre Bible: Texts and Commentaries" is
currently available in the New Testament only. Therefore, only today's
Gospel and its commentary are being posted.]
Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam (To the Greater Glory of God)
For: Monday, November 30, 1998
1st Week of Advent
From: Matthew 8:5-11
The Centurion's Faith
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[5] As He (Jesus) entered Capernaum, a centurion came forward to Him,
beseeching Him [6] and saying, "Lord, my servant is lying paralyzed at
home, in terrible distress." [7] And He said to him, "I will come and
heal him." [8] But the centurion answered Him, "Lord, I am not worthy
to have You come under my roof; but only say the word, and my servant
will be healed. [9] For I am a man under authority, with soldiers
under me; and I say to one, 'Go,' and he goes, and to another, 'Come,'
and he comes, and to my slave, 'Do this,' and he does it." [10] When
Jesus heard him, He marveled, and said to those who followed Him,
"Truly, I say to you, not even in Israel have I found such faith.
[11] I tell you, many will come from east and west and sit at table
with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven."
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Commentary:
5-13. "Centurion": an officer of the Roman army in control of one
hundred men. This man's faith is still an example to us. At the
solemn moment when a Christian is about to receive Jesus in the
Blessed Eucharist, the Church's liturgy places on his lips and in his
heart these words of the centurion, to enliven His faith: "Lord, I am
not worthy...".
The Jews of this time regarded any Jew who entered a Gentile's house as
contracting legal impurity (cf. Jn 19:28; Acts 11:2-3). This centurion
has the deference not to place Jesus in an embarrassing position in the
eyes of His fellow Israelites. He shows that he is convinced that
Jesus has power of disease and illness; he suggests that if Jesus just
says the word, He will do what is needed without having actually to
visit the house; he is reasoning, in a simple, logical way, on the
basis of his professional experience. Jesus avails of this meeting
with a Gentile believer to make a solemn prophecy to the effect that
His Gospel is addressed to the world at large; all men, of every
nation and race, of every age and condition, are called to follow
Christ.
***********************************************************************
Source: "The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries". Biblical text
taken from the Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentary
made by members of the Faculty of Theology of the University of
Navarre, Spain. Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock,
Co. Dublin, Ireland. Printed in Hungary.
"The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries" is currently available in
the New Testament version only.
"Nihil Obstat": Stephen J. Greene, "Censor Deputatus".
"Imprimi Potest": J. O'Carroll, Diocesan Administrator, 15 October
1987.
Reprinted with permission from the U.S. publisher (see below).
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If you feel inspired, become a part of this apostolate by sharing this
e-mail or a printed copy with a relative or a friend or placing the
copy or copies in a bookrack at a church (with the pastor's permission,
if possible). May our good Lord richly bless you for your love of
neighbor and please remember this ("Mustard Seed") apostolate in your
prayers.
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