Salvation For All
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.
1 Reading: Isaiah 2:1-5
The Message Isaiah got regarding Judah and Jerusalem:
There’s a day coming
when the mountain of GOD’s House
Will be The Mountain—
solid, towering over all mountains.
All nations will river toward it,
people from all over set out for it.
They’ll say, “Come,
let’s climb GOD’s Mountain,
go to the House of the God of Jacob.
He’ll show us the way he works
so we can live the way we’re made.”
Zion’s the source of the revelation.
GOD’s Message comes from Jerusalem.
He’ll settle things fairly between nations.
He’ll make things right between many peoples.
They’ll turn their swords into shovels,
their spears into hoes.
No more will nation fight nation;
they won’t play war anymore.
Come, family of Jacob,
let’s live in the light of GOD.
Responsorial Psalm, 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. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
Jerusalem, built as a city
with compact unity.
To it the tribes go up,
the tribes of the LORD.
R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
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. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
Pray for the peace of Jerusalem!
May those who love you prosper!
May peace be within your walls,
prosperity in your buildings.
R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
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. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
Alleluia Psalm 80:4
R. 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
As Jesus entered the village of Capernaum, a Roman captain came up in a panic and said, “Master, my servant is sick. He can’t walk. He’s in terrible pain.”
Jesus said, “I’ll come and heal him.”
“Oh, no,” said the captain. “I don’t want to put you to all that trouble. Just give the order and my servant will be fine. I’m a man who takes orders and gives orders. I tell one soldier, ‘Go,’ and he goes; to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; to my slave, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”
Taken aback, Jesus said, “I’ve yet to come across this kind of simple trust in Israel, the very people who are supposed to know all about God and how he works. This man is the vanguard of many outsiders who will soon be coming from all directions—streaming in from the east, pouring in from the west, sitting down at God’s kingdom banquet alongside Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.”
Commentary
When is one astonished? It’s when something happens that exceeds one’s expectations. Matthew tells us that Jesus was astonished by the faith of the Gentile Captain. This is in contrast to his astonishment at the lack of faith he found among his own people (Mk 6:6). Can we astonish God by our faith or the lack of it? Evidently we can! If the people of his hometown made a dubious name for themselves by surprising God by their lack of faith, this pagan Captain receives such honor by his astonishing faith that his words have entered our Liturgy!
Why did his faith surprise Jesus? Among the many possible reasons is the opening statement he makes before Jesus. He simply reports to Jesus the actual situation at home. “Sir, my servant lies sick at home. He is paralyzed and suffers terribly.” There is no request for healing or intervention, until Jesus expresses his will to heal the boy. Thus, the Captain has no demands. He does not insist on his will. Instead, he merely presents to Jesus his actual situation, leaving it for Jesus to decide what is best for him. Only someone with the deepest faith can do this—being totally open to whatever God wants to do with his life.
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!