Reflection - Reasons

http://usccb.org/bible/readings/091619.cfm
1 Timothy 2:1-8
Luke 7:1-10

As we enter the Gospel story the question of a cure for a certain slave quickly comes to the fore. Will Jesus heal him or not? Maybe he will, maybe he won’t. We might assume that a miracle will be forthcoming but certainty in this matter is inappropriate if you review the particulars.

The slave of a town resident is seriously ill. The resident is acknowledged as a pillar of he community. But the man is a Roman and a soldier besides; and Jesus will later say "I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel." (Matthew 15:24) The slave, on the other hand, is presented as a commodity — he’s a valuable slave. Overall, the details are presented in such a way as to suggest that the centurion is the victim. He is the one who deserves to have this done for him. He is the one who needs to be made whole by the healing of his property. So the scene is not as simple as a first reading might suggest.

Besides that, if Jesus acquiesces to the request of the elders, what else is he implicitly approving? Is he approving slavery? Is he approving self-serving motivations? Is he approving miracles for financial gain or to prevent financial loss? Is he approving taking his mission beyond the “lost sheep of the house of Israel." Is he approving the superficial reasons for which men praise one another?

We know the answers to none of these questions through what we read in the opening few verses. We do know that Jesus went with them. But before proceeding with Jesus and the elders to the centurion’s home, we should pause to reflect on the story’s outcome as we might have fictionally written it. (No fair reading ahead in the Gospel.) Surely, From our vantage point in this PC world a vehement condemnation of the institution of slavery would be appropriate. Furthermore, we might likewise condemn the pre-eminence given to financial matters. And finally, it would be easy to find fault where the suffering of the rich (the Roman centurion who is about to be deprived of his property) takes precedence over the suffering of the poor and lowly (the sick slave.) Jesus speaks to none of these.

In route to the Roman centurion’s home, there is a dramatic turn of events and we are left to speculate on what might have taken place when and if Jesus had actually reached the centurions home.

Luke tells us that the centurion is of a different mind-set than the elders. His concern is for the man who is ill. He does not claim a superior place because of his wealth or position. He knows his own unworthiness. He acknowledges Jesus’ authority. He has faith that Jesus’ physical presence is not really required.

In the end Jesus and the centurion meet on that common ground which Jesus is always seeking: “not even in Israel have I found such faith."