The Vanishing Centurion

Sermon for the third Sunday after Epiphany

We say the words

of the Centurion

at every Mass.

"Lord, I am not worthy

that thou shouldst enter 

under my roof

but only say the word

and I shall be healed."

Of course,

the Centurion was

appealing that

his servant should be healed.

But did the Centurion 

actually meet Jesus?

It would seen that

St Matthew says, "yes"

but St Luke says, "no".

From what St Matthew tells us

it sounds like 

the Centurion is physically present

and talking with Jesus.

But St Luke tells us

that the Centurion sent friends

to communicate with Jesus

and stayed at home.

So was the Centurion there 

or not?

[PAUSE]

St Augustine explains

that while the Centurion 

Isn't physically present

he is still actually communicating

with Jesus

through his Jewish friends

and those whom

he has helped.

Because this Centurion 

respects the Jews,

he accepts that he should

maintain a polite distance

for political reasons.

What is clear, though,

is that this Centurion 

believes that Jesus

is exactly who He says He is

and can heal his servant

whether Jesus is present

or not.

And it is this faith

that Our Lord praises highly:

faith that Jesus can heal,

faith that Jesus wants to heal,

faith that Jesus is exactly Who

He says He is.

It is this faith 

that the Centurion shows

by working with it,

using it to make his decisions,

and by taking a chance on it.

[PAUSE]

This is what Faith is:

trusting that Jesus is

Who He says He Is.

It is Faith that gives strength

to our will

so that we can do 

what pleases God.

But Faith can't be alone:

it must be accompanied 

with our will to do good,

with our will to seek

the joy of other people.

And the will for the joy

of others

is the heart of what it means

to love.

[PAUSE]

St Luke tells us

that the Centurion

has sought the good

of the Jewish people.

It is this Centurion

who has built their synagogue!

Already, the Centurion 

is showing Love,

even for his servant.

And now He is showing Faith,

and the two together

bring healing of

the Centurion's servant.

In Jesus,

Faith and Love

bring healing.

And the Centurion

is justified by his faith

working with love..

[PAUSE]

This is true of us, too.

We are not justified 

by faith alone,

but by faith working in love.

Faith comes as a gift

at the beginning,

but we have to feed it

with Love 

so that it can grow and,

in growing,

bring us closer to the One

in Whom our Faith is placed.

It is result of this 

faith working in love

that the Centurion

does not vanish into history

whether he meets Jesus

or not.

And in our lively faith,

we to will not vanish into history

but transcend it 

into the arms of the One

Whose Word we believe.