1ST WEEK OF ADVENT

In no one in Israel have I found such faith. 

The Roman centurion in today’s Gospel reading was a practical man. He had heard about Jesus’ miracles and healings, so he knew where to go when his servant was ill. He even trusted that Jesus didn’t have to be physically present in order to heal his servant. And so Jesus not only healed from a distance, but praised the centurion for his faith (Matthew 8:10).

Why was this Gentile man able to see so clearly the power and authority of Jesus when many of Israel’s religious leaders did not? Perhaps it was because he came to Jesus with no misconceptions or assumptions. He saw and he believed. He didn’t think, “But this man is breaking the Sabbath” or “But he eats with tax collectors and prostitutes.” He didn’t have expectations that biased him against the reality of what he had seen and heard.

We believe in Jesus’ power and authority to heal, but sometimes our own misconceptions can act as obstacles as well. For example, we might think that miraculous healings don’t happen today or that only the prayers of saints can heal people. Or we might think that God won’t answer us when we pray for healing. Maybe we don’t ask for healing because we have become so resigned to the situation that we think nothing will ever change.

If any of this describes you, try to follow the example of this Roman centurion. Tell yourself, “I believe that Jesus heals, and so I will ask for this healing,” or “Through my baptism, Jesus has given me a share in his authority to heal, so I can pray with this person who is suffering.” Then, after you pray, you can surrender the outcome to the Lord. You have acted in faith, and that’s all Jesus is asking of you.

God wants to heal and wants to use us as instruments to heal other people. It’s that simple. So let’s clear away any misconceptions or assumptions that tempt us to question that reality. Keep believing and keep praying, and the Lord will praise your faith, just as he did for this Roman centurion.

“Jesus, I believe that you can heal. Help me to be ready and willing to pray for healing whenever I see a need.”

Isaiah 4:2-6
Psalm 122:1-9
Matthew 8:5-11