Daily Scripture Reflection & Prayer: July 1, 2023

Matthew 8:5-17

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, but the children of the Kingdom will be driven out into the outer darkness, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth." And Jesus said to the centurion, "You may go; as you have believed, let it be done for you." And at that very hour his servant was healed. Jesus entered the house of Peter and saw his mother-in-law lying in bed with a fever. He touched her hand, the fever left her, and she rose and waited on him. When it was evening, they brought him many who were possessed by demons, and he drove out the spirits by a word and cured all the sick, to fulfill what had been said by Isaiah the prophet: He took away our infirmities and bore our diseases.

Breaking the text open:

The gospel reading for today, Saturday of the 12th Week in Ordinary Time, continues our reading of the Gospel of Matthew. Today’s text features three specific healing encounters of Jesus in Capernaum.

The first involves the centurion who comes to Jesus on behalf of his suffering servant. The faith of this Gentile in Jesus’ authority but also love of all stands in contrast to those of the House of Israel whom He’d come to save but who had rejected him. This familiar healing story gives us our response used to this day just before our reception of the Eucharist at Mass, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof; only say the word and my servant will be healed.” This episode also reveals to us the power of intercessory prayer in the lives of believers.

The second encounter is that of Jesus with the ailing mother-in-law of Peter whom Jesus went to, touched, and healed. The response of the woman is to the healing is serving Jesus. It raises the question for us of our own response to Jesus’ power and presence in our lives.

Finally, the people of the area, hearing of Jesus’ presence, brought their ill and possessed to Him, trusting in Jesus’ loving mercy and authority over illness and even evil spirits.

Meditating on the text:

How deeply do I really believe in Jesus’ power and presence in my life and the lives of others? Do I bring my needs and the needs of others to Jesus? Do I pray for the healing and help of others? And when the LORD answers my prayers, how do I respond? With gratitude? With praise? With service?

Praying:

LORD, Almighty Father, You sent your only begotten Son to be born among us, to dwell among us, to reveal your great love for us, and to reconcile us to You through his selfless sacrifice upon the cross. He taught us that if we ask for anything in His name, it will be given to us. Send your Spirit to strengthen our faith as well as our resolve to live as You created us to live and as your beloved Son calls us to live, children of the loving LORD and disciples of Jesus Christ. This day, I bring _____ to You in prayer, seeking healing and wholeness for them. I ask this in the name of Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with You and the Spirit, one LORD, forever and ever. Amen.