Daily Reflections ...

The gospel quote above is familiar to us. It is part of the prayer we say before receiving the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ at Mass. This prayer is based on the Centurion’s words in today’s gospel. The character of the centurion stands out very clearly in today’s scripture, not only in his faith filled plea and utter trust in Jesus but also the exceptional type of Roman soldier that he was – one that loved the Jews and built a synagogue for them. These are not the normal actions of someone who was part of the occupying and brutal force of the Roman army in Palestine at the time.

Another aspect of this story is that the centurion’s faith was in no way diminished or weakened even though he did not see Jesus face to face as he had sent Jewish elders to ask Jesus to heal his slave and then some friends to tell Jesus not to trouble himself by coming to his home. Do we in 2023 have that same level of trust and faith in Jesus even though we too, like the Roman centurion, have not seen him in the flesh?

Today we commemorate the memorial of St Cyprian and his good friend St Cornelius who was Pope in the middle of the third century C.E. Both of these men were martyred during Roman persecutions of Christians. Both men, like the centurion in today’s gospel, were unwavering in their faith in Jesus, the Son of God.

Lord may my faith in you increase each day. May I trust you more and more in all the ordinary and extraordinary things that happen in my life. Amen

by Michael Bruynesteyn