The centurion from today’s Gospel could not have known that his very words were not only being recorded, but that they would have a central place in every Holy Mass celebrated throughout the centuries across the world!
This centurion was not a follower of Christ; he was presumably not even a Jew. However, he was most likely at least friendly to the Jews as we see the elders beseeching Jesus on his behalf, even claiming: “He deserves to have you do this for him.”
Who is Deserving?
That is quite a bold statement, yet at some time or other, we have approached or seen others confront God with that same attitude, thinking because I have done this, that, or the other, I “deserve” such and such prayer to be answered. While we may not have thought about it in those concrete terms, the attitude of our hearts probably revealed it. Jesus explains this when he tells the parable of the laborers who assumed they would get paid more because of the greater number of hours worked. The truth, however, is that we cannot dictate God’s generosity. The Catechism teaches us that grace, God’s loving favor, is indeed, undeserved (CCC 1996).
Interestingly, this centurion seemed to understand that. He knew he was undeserving, but that did not stop him from seeking Christ.
Under My Roof
Having someone enter your home usually means there is some level of friendship or familiarity with the person. You don’t often invite a solicitor into your home; you may instead step out onto the porch to talk. Similarly, you would probably feel unworthy to have a celebrity, perhaps Pope Francis, over for dinner.
The centurion recognized that he was not worthy to have Jesus enter his home. He knew his home was not a place befitting this healer who He believed had the power to heal his servant. He knew his unworthiness in the face of He Who is Worthy.
Jesus was so impressed with his confidence. This man, who was not his follower and did not share his Jewish faith, had no doubt that all he had to do was make his request known to Jesus, and it would be done. This is the kind of faith Jesus invites us to embrace – full surrender to Him! He is our healer, redeemer, and the greatest Lover of our soul.
Surrender Novena
Several years ago, I came across a powerful novena that truly spoke to my heart about this kind of childlike trust. It was written by Servant of God Fr. Dolindo Ruotolo, a priest who was once Padre Pio’s spiritual director. This summer my husband and I went to Italy for our 30th wedding anniversary, and since this novena had such a profound effect on our spiritual lives, we found the church in Naples where he is buried.
As I knelt in that church praying before his tomb, I became a little distracted as I saw one Italian after another come up to his tomb and knock on it three times. “What kind of weird Italian superstition is this?” was all I could think! I went off to the side and decided to google it, and suddenly I got several links. It appears Fr. Dolindo was a no-nonsense man who lived in poverty and was always available to those who were poor or sick. He left a dying promise – that all anyone needed to do was come knock on his tomb three times in honor of the Trinity, and know he was interceding on their behalf. In fact, each short entry of the Surrender Novena ends with the repetition of “Jesus, I surrender myself to you. Take care of everything” 10 times.
This is the kind of simple and wholehearted trust we need in our daily lives – the faith of the centurion whose words we echo at every Mass we attend!
Dear Celina – I absolutely loved your reflection from beginning to end. I appreciated the ‘deserving’ analysis, the humility overlay and the childlike approach – and the wonderful three time knock on Father Dolindo’s tomb. All of it was perfect.
I tend to think that the centurion, having been aware of Jewish customs especially with Gentiles -even if a godfearer -was aware that RabbinJesus would be defiled and become unclean in a Gentile home and that such a thought would have also guided the Centurion’s thoughts.
By the way I grew up in Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo, e por isso tambem falo Portugues como vôce!