Monday 16 September 2024

Today is Monday the 16th of September, the feast of Saints Cornelius and Cyprian, in the 24th week of Ordinary Time. The Cape Town Camerata sings ‘Wana Baraka’: They have blessings, those who pray; Jesus himself said so. Alleluia! They have peace. They have joy. They have well-being. Alleluia! Today’s reading is from the Gospel of Luke. Luke 7:1-10 After Jesus had finished all his sayings in the hearing of the people, he entered Capernaum. A centurion there had a slave whom he valued highly, and who was ill and close to death. When he heard about Jesus, he sent some Jewish elders to him, asking him to come and heal his slave. When they came to Jesus, they appealed to him earnestly, saying, ‘He is worthy of having you do this for him, for he loves our people, and it is he who built our synagogue for us.’ And Jesus went with them, but when he was not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to say to him, ‘Lord, do not trouble yourself, for I am not worthy to have you come under my roof; therefore I did not presume to come to you. But only speak the word, and let my servant be healed. For I also am a man set under authority, with soldiers under me; and I say to one, “Go”, and he goes, and to another, “Come”, and he comes, and to my slave, “Do this”, and the slave does it.’ When Jesus heard this he was amazed at him, and turning to the crowd that followed him, he said, ‘I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such faith.’ When those who had been sent returned to the house, they found the slave in good health. Notice the behaviours, attitudes, values that stand out in this account… Love? Loyalty? Humility? Name some others. Does anything surprise you about the centurion, as it surprised Jesus? The centurion asks from Jesus what he deeply desires. Are you able to do the same? The centurion and Jesus don’t physically meet in this account. But each has a strong and accurate picture of the other. How would Jesus accurately describe you? Listen again, picture these deeply human scenes of longing, and try to feel the emotions of all the characters involved. Speak with this very same Jesus, who met the needs of the centurion from afar, and let him know what is on your heart. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.