Become Like the Centurion – Reflection on Luke 7:1-10
If you are a Roman Catholic, you are familiar with the short prayer before receiving Communion. It is a modified version of the centurion’s request to Jesus. “Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed.” Like the centurion, we know we do wrong but depend on Jesus to heal us. In reciting the prayer, we acknowledge the belief the Lord does say the word. During quiet times like this, we can review and have remorse for the mistakes that harmed our souls to become healed. From a distance of less than a breath away, the Lord responds with mercy even with all the requests of the cosmos to consider.
The Healing of the Officers Son by James Tissot (full resolution painting).
More details are available at the Brooklyn Museum website.
Additional Ordinary time Reflections
Luke 7:1-10 – Scripture*
Jesus Heals a Centurion’s Servant
After Jesus had finished all his sayings in the hearing of the people, he entered Capernaum. 2 A centurion there had a slave whom he valued highly, and who was ill and close to death. 3 When he heard about Jesus, he sent some Jewish elders to him, asking him to come and heal his slave. 4 When they came to Jesus, they appealed to him earnestly, saying, “He is worthy of having you do this for him, 5 for he loves our people, and it is he who built our synagogue for us.” 6 And Jesus went with them, but when he was not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to say to him, “Lord, do not trouble yourself, for I am not worthy to have you come under my roof; 7 therefore I did not presume to come to you. But only speak the word, and let my servant be healed. 8 For I also am a man set under authority, with soldiers under me; and I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes, and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes, and to my slave, ‘Do this,’ and the slave does it.” 9 When Jesus heard this he was amazed at him, and turning to the crowd that followed him, he said, “I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such faith.” 10 When those who had been sent returned to the house, they found the slave in good health.
Additional Thoughts
Thank you for meditating on this Gospel and reading this Lectio Divina on Luke 7:1-10 Reflection – become like the Centurion.
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Prayer for young families:
Lord, let the young families of our communities get to know your joy, peace, comfort, and love despite the world’s distractions.
Attributions
This site has written permission to use the New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE) Bible Luke 7 Bible passage.
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This Lectio Divina on Luke 7:1-10 Reflection – Become like the Centurion is in the Lectionary season of Ordinary Time.
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