Daily Scripture Reflection & Prayer: September 16, 2024

Date: Memorial of Saints Cornelius and Cyprian

Scripture Text:  Luke 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.

Breaking the text open – background and summary:

The gospel for today, taken from Luke, recounts Jesus’ healing of a centurion’s slave. The account is remarkable for several reasons: the centurion who asked for Jesus’ intervention was not Jewish but Roman, the centurion’s faith in Jesus’ ability exceeded that of individuals who had followed Him and witnessed His teaching and healing, and the Jesus’ healing of the slave happened from a distance. The account holds up the power of Jesus Christ, Son of God, and the power of intercessions/prayer to Jesus.

Meditating on the text with personal questions:

Do I bring my needs to Christ with full faith?

Praying:

LORD, Almighty Father and Creator, Your love for me and desire for my life prompted You to send your only-begotten Son to give His life for me and for my life because of my sins. Salvation comes from You, through your beloved Son, Christ, in the Spirit. Send your Spirit to strengthen my resolve to live the life You created me to live, to become the one You created me to be, and to claim the life Christ died so that I might live. I ask this in the name of your beloved Son, Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with You and the Spirit, one LORD, forever and ever. Amen.