Daily Scripture Reflection & Prayer: December 4, 2023

Date: Monday of the 1st Week of Advent

Scripture Text: Matthew 8:5-11

When Jesus entered Capernaum, a centurion approached him and appealed to him, saying, "Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, suffering dreadfully." He said to him, "I will come and cure him." The 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. For I too am a man 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 and said to those following him, "Amen, I say to you, in no one in Israel have I found such faith. I 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."

Breaking the text open – background and summary:

The gospel reading for today presents Jesus’ encounter with the centurion at Capernaum. The centurion came to Jesus for help for his servant. Jesus, as we know is always compassionate, and offered to go with the centurion to cure his servant. But the centurion’s reply was so profound that it amazed Jesus. The centurion told Jesus that he believed that if Jesus only said the word at that moment and in that place, his servant far away would be healed. He even proclaimed himself unworthy of Jesus’ presence in his home.

Not only Jesus recognized the profoundness of the centurion’s statement of faith, but so does the Church; it is our response at the Mass when following the great elevation just before communion: "Oh Lord, I am not worthy that You should enter under my roof, but only say the word, and my soul shall be healed."

Meditating on the text with personal questions:

Do I with all humility understand the gift of Jesus who promises to remain in me if I remain with Him? Do I seek Jesus’ healing of my illnesses but also, and most especially my imperfections and sins?

Praying:

LORD, we come before You this day with humble hearts full of love for You. We come in awe, wondering why You love us as You do. Who are we that it should be so? We know that we are far from perfect, but we trust in your promise and believe in your power to heal us. We open ourselves to You and your Spirit to increase our faith, to deepen our hope, and to stir our love so as to kindle it to new possibilities. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be world without end. Amen.