UNIVERSAL SALVATION—THE FAITH OF THE CENTURION
Introduction
Today’s message speaks of universal salvation. Isaiah preaches that all are called to believe in God, to worship him, to live according to God’s plans and laws, and to enjoy his peace. Jerusalem stands here for God’s believing people.
The centurion’s faith is remarkable. He is symbolic of the Gentiles who will be called, for the kingdom is open to all, without any privilege of race or culture. With Christ, salvation has become available to anyone of good will.
Opening Prayer
Lord God, Father of all,
in your Son, Jesus Christ,
you invite everyone and all to know and love you
and to live in your unending peace.
Keep alive in us the zeal
to bring the light of your truth
and the riches of your life and love to all,
without any distinction
of race, language or culture.
May everyone on earth come to know you
as the merciful Father of all
through our brother and Saviour,
Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen!
1 Reading: ISAIAH 4:2-6
On that day, the branch of the LORD will be luster and glory, and the fruit of the earth will be honor and splendour for the survivors of Israel. He who remains in Zion and he who is left in Jerusalem Will be called holy: every one marked down for life in Jerusalem. When the LORD washes away the filth of the daughters of Zion, And purges Jerusalem’s blood from her midst with a blast of searing judgment, Then will the LORD create, over the whole site of Mount Zion and over her place of assembly, A smoking cloud by day and a light of flaming fire by night. For over all, the LORD’s glory will be shelter and protection: shade from the parching heat of day, refuge and cover from storm and rain.
Responsorial PSALM 122:1-2, 3-4B, 4CD-5, 6-7, 8-9
R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
I rejoiced because they said to me,
“We will go up to the house of the LORD.”
And now we have set foot
within your gates, O Jerusalem. R.
Jerusalem, built as a city
with compact unity.
To it the tribes go up,
the tribes of the LORD. R.
According to the decree for Israel,
to give thanks to the name of the LORD.
In it are set up judgment seats,
seats for the house of David. R.
Pray for the peace of Jerusalem!
May those who love you prosper!
May peace be within your walls,
prosperity in your buildings. R.
Because of my relatives and friends
I will say, “Peace be within you!”
Because of the house of the LORD, our God,
I will pray for your good. R.
Alleluia: PSALM 80:4
Alleluia, alleluia.
Come and save us, LORD our God;
Let your face shine upon us, that we may be saved.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel: MATTHEW 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.”
Commentary
Daring the Word
The words of the centurion – “Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof; but only speak the word, and my servant will be healed” – so astonished Christ that we have incorporated them into our celebration of the Eucharist. What do those words reveal? First of all, it acknowledges the overarching authority and power of Christ – the Word of the Father, the Word that created everything in the universe. If the Word can create, the Word can recreate and revive as well. Secondly, the words of the centurion acknowledge his own unworthiness, almost eliciting a comparison with the response of Isaiah (cf. Is 6:5) at the vision of the holiness of God. Finally, the words also dare Christ to speak the word and effect healing, in spite of the unworthiness of the petitioner. Only a soul with deep faith and trust in God’s goodness and love can utter such words to Christ. As we pray these words in the Rite of Communion, what meanings do we intend?
Intercessions
Let us pray that the Lord Jesus may be known and accepted by all. We say: Lord, hear our prayer.
– For people who drift through life without someone to believe in, that they may discover God and his Messiah, we pray:
– For the many cultures all over the world, that the Gospel may enrich them, we pray:
– For peace and lasting friendship among nations, we pray:
Prayer over the Gifts
Lord God, bread and wine,
food and drink, life and joy –
these you have destined for all
through your Son, Jesus Christ.
Let it be a life and joy
that cannot be taken away
and we can make real among us
by the strength of him,
who is our food and drink,
Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen!
Prayer after Communion
Lord, God of the Promise,
you have nourished us
with the body of your Son.
By the strength of this food,
make us the body of your Son to the world,
not on account of our merits
but for the sake of what you do in us.
Make visible in us
the mercy and justice of Jesus Christ,
that people may recognize his presence among us
and through him, we give you all honour and praise,
now and for ever. Amen!
Blessing
“Many will come from east and west and eat with us at the table of the kingdom.” This is happening much in our day. Are we ready to respect and welcome them as equals with us before God? May Almighty God bless you and them, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!