I realize my desire to have a welcoming home for Jesus comes at my family’s expense. “Put your toys away. Let’s try to keep the house tidy for Jesus’ birthday. Why can’t you guys pick up your dirty laundry?” I probably get too ambitious with how I want our home to look without considering that whatever work we do to clean, organize, wipe down, or put away will never be sufficient for Jesus to enter under our roof. Our external factors aren’t where Jesus wants to reside anyway.
In today’s Gospel, a Centurion offers us wisdom on how to approach this new liturgical year. Spoiler alert: it has nothing to do with Christmas decorations or how tidy your home is.
The Centurion’s servant is “lying at home paralyzed, suffering dreadfully” (Matthew 8:6). Jesus, being who He is, responds immediately, “I will come and cure him” (Matthew 8:7) The Centurion’s response in this exchange are words for us to contemplate this Advent: “Lord, I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof; only say the word and my servant will be healed” (Matthew 8:8). Jesus' life is a gift to us that we are not worthy to receive, yet God sends His only son to us so that we may know Him. We are called to have unwavering faith in the word that Jesus speaks.
The Centurion continued to speak and afterwards 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'" (Matthew 8:10). Jesus is amazed at the faith of the Centurion. This is the only time in the Gospel of Matthew that Jesus is “amazed.”
As I read this line, I wondered if Jesus would be amazed with my own faith like He was with the Centurion's?
Sister, as we begin to set up our manger scenes and partake in Christmas festivities let’s make room for Jesus to enter into the chamber of our hearts and allow Him to be amazed with our faith in Him.
LOVING GOD, LOVING OTHERS
A NEW WORKSHOP
COME BACK TO FIRST LOVE
