(Optional Memorial for Saint Robert Bellarmine, Bishop and Doctor of the Church)
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| “Confession of the Centurion” by James Tissot, 1886-1894 |
Commentary:
Reading 1: 1 Corinthians 11:17-26, 33
Commentary on 1 Cor 11:17-26, 33
St. Paul lashes out at the church in Corinth for divisions that have developed between different groups or factions. In the first part of this reading, he compares their behavior to those who would be uncharitable, eating and drinking while their brothers and sisters go hungry. His comment on these divisions is especially harsh as he gives a veiled warning that those who cause these divisions, and separate themselves from “those who are approved” – those acceptable to the Lord in the eschaton.
The apostle goes on to recount the Eucharistic Blessing in this earliest form of the institution of the Lord’s Supper. The emphasis is on Jesus’ generous gift of self and the command to repeat his actions in worship.
CCC: 1 Cor 11:17-34 1329; 1 Cor 11:17 2178; 1 Cor 11:18 752; 1 Cor 11:20 1329; 1 Cor 11:23-26 1339; 1 Cor 11:23 610, 1366; 1 Cor 11:24-25 1356; 1 Cor 11:24 1328, 1329; 1 Cor 11:25 611, 613; 1 Cor 11:26 671, 1076, 1130, 1344, 1393, 2772, 2776
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Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 40:7-8a, 8b-9, 10, 17
R. (1 Cor 11:26b) Proclaim the death of the Lord until he comes again.
Commentary on Ps 40:7-8a, 8b-9, 10, 17
Psalm 40 is a song of thanksgiving. It is also combined with a lament. In these strophes the thanksgiving of those who hear the voice of God and obey his words is sung. This obedience is loved by God above ritual sacrifices. The Lord especially loves those who follow his law. Once heard, the good news is proclaimed to all the people.
Supporting the new covenant, the psalm selection tells us that the animal sacrifices and sin offerings of the Hebrews are not what the Lord wants; he would rather have a humble and contrite heart.
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Gospel: Luke 7:1-10
Commentary on Lk 7:1-10
The story of the healing of the centurion’s servant is used to demonstrate that even death is subject to the will of Christ. The centurion’s speech, through the messenger, expresses this thought and communicates the humility of one who recognizes God’s authority.
The story is found also in Matthew 8:5-13 and John 4:46-53, although differing in some details. A key element of the story is the humility of the centurion. While in St. Matthew’s Gospel he approached Christ directly, here he sends delegations to implore the help of the Lord for his slave who is “entimos” (very dear) to him. This humility resonates within our modern liturgy as we use the centurion’s words just before receiving the Eucharist: “Lord I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof; but only say the word and my soul shall be healed.”(Dómine, non sum dígnus, ut íntres sub téctum méum: sed tántum dic vérbo, et sanábitur ánima méa.)
An important feature of this miracle story is the fact that Jesus was not physically present; rather he cured with a word (shared in the story of the Syro-Phoenician Woman [Mark 7:24-30]). The faith of those believing in God’s mercy expressed through Christ was sufficient to impart the healing presence of God.
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Reflection:
We all yearn for the faith of the centurion, do we not? We find ourselves in situations feeling threatened by events, circumstances of health, or compromised ethically where we say with our lips: “I know God will help me.” Or, “I know God loves me and I place this in his hands.” Yet deep within us our frail human psyche screams: “I am falling and there is no one to help.” Or, “I am dying and I am alone in the darkness.” What was it that allowed the centurion to so impress Jesus such that the Lord, out of his infinite mercy, reached out and cured the slave for whom the centurion was so concerned?
In each of our lives we have experienced fear. Fear is a natural emotion, one developed organically over the millennia of human evolution as a protective mechanism, so that we would know when to flee danger and when to avoid self-destructive behaviors. It is this natural fear that is difficult to offer up because it is so integrated into our being. I am reminded of the famous novel by Frank Herbert, “Dune,” where the hero was taught a mantra: “Fear is the little mind-killer.”
As difficult as it seems, we must learn to offer our fear to the Lord, as did the centurion and the martyrs, to develop so much trust in the Lord that our fear is driven out completely. If we can do this, our hearts can approach the Lord full of confidence, full of hope, and full of faith, laying before him all that troubles us. Because our faith is so strong, the Lord will, with his word of pure love, answer our deepest needs with the mercy only he can show.
Our prayer today is a plea to the Lord. We ask that he accept our deepest fears, and turn them to faith in him. May he comfort us in the darkness of those fears, and bring light and warmth to all who suffer so needlessly for lack of his compassion.
Pax
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