November 28, 2022 Monday

Gospel  Mt 8: 5-11

When Jesus entered Capernaum,

a centurion approached him and appealed to him, saying,

"Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, suffering dreadfully."  

He said to him, "I will come and cure him."  

The centurion said in reply,

"Lord, I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof;

only say the word and my servant will be healed.

For I too am a man 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 and said to those following him,

"Amen, I say to you, in no one in Israel have I found such faith.

I say to you, many will come from the east and the west,

and will recline with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob

at the banquet in the Kingdom of heaven."

Reflections: 

Jesus was impressed by the faith of someone, from whom it was unexpected. Given the fact that the centurion was not informed in the faith of the Isralites, it was understood that he worshipped pagan gods. But his great faith in Jesus, implied that he understood and waas open to the Spirit, for only the Spirit can open one's heart to Jesus. Vatican II documents Lumen Gentium, Ad Gentes  tell of the " seeds of the Word " that are present and active in other religions (cf. AG no. 11, LG no. 17). And, when Jesus speaks of those coming from the east and west, reclinining alongside Abraham , Isaac and Jacob, he invites us to be open to those of other religions who through their acts show their affiliation to Christian principles, which may also exist in their own religious principles. 

Activity: 

Identify persons of other faith in your life -- neighbourhood and workplace and appreciate a recent act of charity they did, which goes by Chiristian principles. Or do so in the future.