By

Ralph Carl

Text of Reflection:  
December 3, 2007

The bible readings for this day give messages of hope and examples of humility and respect. It is interesting that the particular Old Testament readings were paired.  While both concern themselves with hope and faith, the Old Testament meeting is considerably more negative in tone.  The New Testament reading has a more positive message.

Throughout history there have been people subjected to oppression by an occupying force.  The psalm is meant to give hope to the Jewish people at the time of its writing that their oppressors will be purged and the "chosen people" will once again be in charge.  It therefore strikes me that protagonist in the New Testament reading is what would be considered a member of an occupying power in Jerusalem at the time.

Indeed one of the messages in this new testament passage in particular, and the gospel according to Mathew in general, is that Jesus has come to serve all of mankind, both gentile and Jew, free man and slave, oppressor and oppressed.   The main character is a centurion, a commander in the Roman Army, which at the time was occupying Israel, and would in due course crucify Jesus for treason.   I am sure that Jesus' disciples were horrified that he would give this man "the time of day" let alone manifest his ministry through a miracle requested by this man.

But yet Jesus listens the centurion.  Clearly Jesus does not answer all of our prayers, or at least sometimes answers them with a "no".  Jesus did fulfill this Centurion's request, however.  Perhaps another point of this biblical account is to give us a model of how to pray.  There are several aspects of the centurion's request that may serve as a model for how to talk to, and make requests of God.  Firstly it is filled with humility.  This genuine humility is somewhat unexpected coming from a man who would by the nature of his position and status have been confident and proud.   Indeed his plea to Jesus is almost "child-like".  He draws a simplistic analogy between his military chain of command and Jesus' relationship to God.  A second aspect of the Centurion's request that may serve as a model for our "requests" of God is it is focused on welfare of another person rather than being focused on the person making the request.  Clearly Jesus was moved by the Centurion's humility and selflessness.

Another characteristic of the Centurion that is worth pointing out is that he was willing to "profess" his faith in Jesus, at possible considerable risk.  The Centurion could have been mobbed by the crowd following Jesus.  Indeed some of Jesus' followers were probably part of the insurgency that was brewing against the Roman occupation.  The Centurion was also putting his professional position, and possibly life at risk by associating with Jesus, who later was crucified as a traitor to the Empire.

The centurion is fascinating biblical character.  This gentile exhibits several behaviors that are model for Christians.   Among these are his faith, his willingness to express it a considerable risk to his reputation, his humility and his selfless less provide an example of what it means to be a Christian.