The Catholic Calendar for Monday, November 28, 2005
Monday of the First Week of Advent

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Isaiah 2:1-5
Psalm 122:1-2, 3-4b, 4cd-5, 6-7, 8-9
Matthew 8:5-11

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

“In no one in Israel have I found such faith.” (Matthew 8:5-11)

The Centurion seeks healing for his servant and replies to our Lord’s offer, “I will come and cure him;” “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…”

Jesus confirms the faith expressed by the Centurion -- the benchmark for one’s own faith in God: “In no one in Israel have I found such faith.” God is approachable, and trusted to give what is asked. Yet, like the Centurion, does one acknowledge God is so great that there is no worthiness of self to receive Him?

Like subjected soldiers and slaves, does one humbly and completely honor and obey God’s authority without question and with trustworthy care?

The Centurion demonstrates the command itself, given by the Lord, carries the authority to heal. It relies not on anything except the trusting humility of the seeker in the authority and power of God’s will to be done. A pure, humble, obedient, trustworthy response acknowledging God’s command is one’s ‘Amen’.

O Lord, grant us the faith to recognize our unworthiness for You to ‘enter in’ under the roof of our sinful, lowly, self-soul. May our humble, obedient, trustworthy response, in reply to Your commands, elicit our own ‘Amen’ as You, the Word, forgive our sins and restore all in You. Amen.

- Mary Williams
(www.impactbydesign.biz)