Daily Scripture Reflection & Prayer: June 28, 2025

Date: Saturday of the 12th Week in Ordinary Time

Scripture Text:  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 infirmitiesand bore our diseases.

Breaking the text open – background and summary:

The gospel reading for today begins Matthew’s narrative of Jesus’ healing ministry following the Sermon on the Mount. The first healing is of the centurion’s servant. We are struck by the centurion’s faith, as was Jesus. The centurion believed that Jesus’ will to heal was capable of healing, even remotely. We recognize the centurion’s response to Jesus, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof; only say the word…” We ourselves utter similar words before receiving the Eucharist.

The we see Jesus healing Peter’s mother-in-law who immediately after healing waited on Jesus. Finally, we hear of Jesus’s healing the infirmities of all who were brought to him lovingly.

Meditating on the text with personal questions:

Do I trust in Jesus’ healing power? Do I bring my needs to Jesus? Do I use my restored health gratefully in service to the One who healed me?

Praying:

LORD, Jesus Christ, You came to us as brother, sharing in our human nature in all ways except sin. And You cared for those You encountered regardless of their background. You dealt with their needs in the moment lovingly. Lord, send your Spirit to gift us with the courage to come to You for help and the grace to accept your loving help, healing, and presence graciously and lovingly. Grant that we may use the spiritual and physical gifts given to us for the glory of the Father Almighty and in service to You. Amen.