Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew 8, 5-11
When Jesus entered Capernaum,
a centurion approached him and appealed to him, saying,
“Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, suffering dreadfully.”
He said to him, “I will come and cure him.”
The centurion said in reply,
“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;
and to another, ‘Come here,’ and he comes;
and to my slave, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”
When Jesus heard this, he was amazed and said to those following him,
“Amen, I say to you, in no one in Israel have I found such faith.
I say to you, many will come from the east and the west,
and will recline with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob
at the banquet in the Kingdom of heaven.”
The centurion
1. Pleading. When you feel like you can’t go on, faith is what gives you strength. Advent has just begun, and it’s a season of hope, a time when Jesus invites you to come to Him, to seek Him out and ask for help. We all go through tough times, we all feel as if something in us is withering, whether we’re tired from everything we’ve been through during the year or struggling with challenges. God wants you to seek Him, because He cares about you and because He can and wants to help you.
2. Such faith. Faith can keep you going when life is difficult. When faith is lived with humility, it can do great things in your life. Therefore, don’t be discouraged. Don’t let your faith fade away; instead, try to quiet the worries that weaken your faith and your ability to persevere. Seek the faith that nourishes your life and helps you to trust when it seems that everything is lost. Build trust in God because when you trust and abandon yourself to Him things can change for the better.
3. The Kingdom of Heaven. Remember that eternity lives in you and this life is temporary. Keep moving toward what you love and love the journey you’re on. God is working in you, and you’re part of His work for others.
Never forget that something good is on the way! God bless you, be with you and protect you in the name of the Father, of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
