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Monday, September 17, 2018
Monday of the 24thWeek in Ordinary Time
Memorial of Saint Cornelius and Cyprian
A STRUGGLE WITH A REQUEST (CONTRAST) +++++++
Ø In today’s Gospel, there is a contrast or irony that can teaches us something
Ø The Roman officer sees himself as unworthy
Ø He’d like 2 have J come & heal his slave who’s very sick, but doesn’t feel worthy 2 approach J
Ø So, asks the Jewish elders to approach J for him
Ø As Jesus draws near to the home, the centurion sends friends –he doesn’t approach Jesus
Ø The friends give J the centurion’s message that he feels unworthy to have Jesus enter his home
Ø His message: U’ve power that U don’t have 2 come, “Just say word & my servant’ll be healed”
Ø Centurion feels unworthy being in Js’presence
Ø In contrast to request, Jewish leaders tell J that centurion deserves to have Jesus do this for him
Ø And, of course, in the end, Jesus praises the centurion’s faith and finds him very worthy
THE LESSON (IRONY) ++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Ø So, a contrast and irony and this teaches us something valuable
Ø The lesson is that, life the centurion, we are all unworthy of being in God’s presence and of receiving Jesus “under our roof”
Ø But we become worthy right in the admitting of our unworthiness
Ø Yes, in the admission, we are made right in our relationship with God
Ø The irony is that in our humility, in our humble admission of unworthiness, we actually become worthy of God’s love and presence
Ø And we are made worthy because of the admission of our need, exactly like the centurion’s admission of his need
CONCLUSION ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Ø That is the irony of the way of Jesus
Ø That is how things work in the Kingdom of God
Ø And this is why in every Mass, before we receive Communion, we repeat the words of this centurion to this very day:
Ø “Lord I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof,”that is “receive you, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed”
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