First Reading - Isaiah 4:2-6
Gospel - Matthew 8:5-11
The first reading presents a prophecy of supreme hope that centers on Jerusalem. The prophecy of hope proceeds after the prophecy of the fall of Jerusalem (Is. 2:6-4:1). Therefore, the prophecy of hope encompasses the hope of a purified and faithful city protected by God. The hope of the city is stronger because it emerges from the failures and humiliation. This prophecy comes from a time after Jerusalem had been destroyed, possibly as late as the fifth or fourth century B.C. This passage is a supurb illustration of how tragedy can be turned to hope; a hope of the renewal of broken relationship with God.
Jesus’ healing of the centurion’s slave, described in today’s Gospel, shows us how God listens to our Faith-filled prayers and meets our needs. Centurions were reliable, commanding, brave captains in charge of 100 soldiers. They were used to giving and receiving commands. They were the backbone of Roman army. According to Luke’s account (Lk 7:1-10), this centurion loved the Jews and respected their religious customs. He knew that Jews incurred ritual uncleanness on entering the house of a pagan, and, wanting to save Jesus this inconvenience, said he was unworthy to have Jesus come into his pagan house. The Centurion loved his sick servant, trusted in Jesus’ power of healing, and was ready to face the ridicule of his fellow-centurions by pleading before a Jewish rabbi.
The centurion asked Jesus just to shout a command as he did with his soldiers, so that the illness might leave his servant by the power of that order. Jesus was moved by his Faith and rewarded the trusting Faith of this Gentile officer by telling him: “Go; be it done for you as you have believed.”
Dear friends, we need to grow to the level of faith of the centurion by knowing and personally experiencing Jesus in our lives. We do so by our meditative daily reading of the Bible, by our daily personal and family prayers, by frequenting the Sacraments, especially the Eucharistic celebration, and by surrendering our lives to Jesus in rendering loving service to others in all humility.
The second aspect of faith is that it sustains our hope. We have initiated our preparation for the Christmas with the beginning of the season of Advent. Well, our preparation for Christmas is the expression of our faith and that gives us hope for a joyful and grace-filled experience of Christmas. The combination of faith and hope should continue to guide us throughout our lives too. Faith must always instill hope in us that God, who is the in-charge of everything, will continue to help and guide us.
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