In today’s reading we find a Roman soldier who had heard about Jesus’ power to heal. He was a Centurion which means that he was in charge of 100 soldiers. We don’t know too much about him, but we do know he had a servant in his home whom he highly regarded. The servant was very sick and about to die. When he heard about Jesus he thought maybe, just maybe, Jesus could help the servant. To find out, he sent some Jewish elder friends to ask if Jesus might come to his house and save the life of his servant.
His friends tried to convince Jesus to come because they believed the Centurion was “worthy,” explaining how he loved the nation and even helped build the local synagogue. Jesus accepted their invitation and headed off to the Centurion’s home. Before He got there, however, the Centurion sent another group of his friends, to say to Jesus, “Lord, do not trouble Yourself further, for I am not worthy for You to come under my roof; for this reason I did not even consider myself worthy to come to You, but just say the word, and my servant will be healed” (vs. 6). When Jesus heard these words, “He marveled at him” and turned to the crowd and said, “I say to you, not even in Israel have I found such great faith” (vs. 9).
That’s a breathtaking story isn’t it. A Roman reaching out to Jesus through some Jewish friends; Jesus coming to the Roman Centurion’s home but being told, upon arrival, that this Roman man had had a change of heart and didn’t feel like he was worthy for Jesus to come into his home. Instead, he trusted the powerful word of Jesus to work its work regardless of Jesus’ physical location in the matter. Then, Jesus, using a Roman Centurion, turned to say to a group of Jews that this man’s faith was greater than any faith He had seen in Israel. That’s just all mixed up, isn’t it?
This event reminds me that God isn’t looking for Jews or Gentiles but for both. Nationality is never the issue with God. God looks on the human heart, and sees the true mind and spirit of a person. As someone once said, all the ground is level at the foot of the cross. Jesus is looking for people to be open to God, and receptive to what God is doing in the world.
This leads me to look inward and ask what is the true state of my heart. Do I think I have special access to God because of my background and upbringing? Jesus tells us not to think this way. Jesus calls us to faith, and to a humbling of ourselves so that God can work the works of grace in us. I’m pretty sure we should stop trying to impress God. He knows us through and through. Instead, maybe we should just get real before God, confess our unworthiness, and then let God be God in us.
Lent calls us to get real and stay real before God.
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