Faith is not the only requirement

Homily for September 16, 2019 | Dominican Sisters

INTRODUCTION

Sisters and Brothers in Christ, in today’s Gospel we will he hear the story about the Roman Centurion who came to Jesus to intercede for the healing of his slave. In our first reading, we will hear Paul instructing Timothy to teach the members in Ephesus to pray for everybody especially the authorities. He also reiterates that Christ is the only mediator between God and humanity.

For the many times we failed to became mediators of peace and the Glory of God, let us beg the Lord for his mercy and pardon.

HOMILY | 1 Timothy 2:1-8 | Luke 7:1-10

In the healing of the the Centurion’s slave we are reminded of

• the healing of Naaman, a Syrian who is the commander of the army, was healed by the Prophet Elisha.

• In the Gospel of John, we hear the story of the healing of the Royal Official’s Son in Galilee (John 4:43-54),

• and the story of Canaanite woman with daughter possessed by evil spirit.

They are different stories from different Gospels but of the same theme. They were all Gentiles but were heeded by Jesus.

Looking at the Centurion’s state as interceding for the slave, and in turn the elders interceding for the centurion begs the question: what is there in this man that Jesus had to heed to a gentile aside from the show of enormous faith? Faith is not the only requirement.

The Centurion, along with the other stories I earlier enumerated, is an icon of Faith, Hope, and Love.

He had faith in Jesus, faith that He could heal from a distance.

Hope is captured in his words, just give the order and my servant will be healed.

Hope, and Love.

He had faith in Jesus, faith that He could heal from a distance.

Hope is captured in his words, just give the order and my servant will be healed.

Faith and hope articulated enormously. Love is presented in the very person of the Centurion. The mediation of the elders give us a clue. He loves our nation, and built a synagogue for us.

The Centurion is presented as a benefactor and a God-fearing Gentile. Paul sets aside the differences of all those who believe in Christ and unites them as having One God and One mediator who is Christ because salvation is for all.

For us religious, Church people, and Catholics as a whole, we are reminded of the Cardinal virtues of Faith, Hope and Love. Pope Benedict wrote extensively on these topics, at the begging of his pontificate, he wrote Deus Caritas Est emphasising love, then Spe Salvi teaching the world that hope in Christ saves.

When we intercede people to God and when people ask us to pray for them [which by the way is one of our roles] our hearts must be full of love not hatred, faith not unbelief, hope and not fear. A Catholic especially a religious is a person of peace, a person of confidence, and a person who is brave. In this way, we become true mediators who merit the graces of the Lord.