SCRIPTURE
LUKE 7:1-10
healing a centurion’s slave.
When he had finished all his words to the people, he entered Capernaum. A centurion there had a slave who was ill and about to die, and he was valuable to him. When he heard about Jesus, he sent elders of the Jews to him, asking him to come and save the life of his slave. They approached Jesus and strongly urged him to come, saying, “He deserves to have you do this for him, for he loves our nation and he built the synagogue for us.”
And Jesus went with them, but when he was only a short distance from the house, the centurion sent friends to tell him, “Lord, do not trouble yourself, for I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof. Therefore, I did not consider myself worthy to come to you; but say the word and let my servant be healed. For I too am a person 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, turning, said to the crowd following him, “I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such faith.” When the messengers returned to the house, they found the slave in good health.
LORD I AM NOT WORTHY,
SAY BUT THE WORD AND I WILL BE HEALED
REFLECTION
A Roman Centurion who had at least 100 men under his command had a slave that was sick but he loved this slave, didn’t see him as just a slave, but a person in need. When the centurion heard about Jesus, he sent some Jewish elders to Jesus because he himself, a Gentile, a pagan, felt unworthy. Do we choose intercessors in this world and in the next? Why Not?
The Jewish elders tried to put the best spin on the request by saying this Roman Centurion built their synagogue and loves this nation. I don’t believe Jesus needed this bit of promotion to go with them. It is not about what we do, but what Jesus does, his will to save all.
As Jesus was going to the Centurion house, the Centurion came out and said, I am not worthy that you enter my house. I am sure it wasn’t because his physical house was untidy but rather he was struck with humility of who he was and who Jesus was. Do we humbly approach Jesus in prayer? Heal me Jesus, Savior of the World. Jesus?
Not only did the Centurion recognize Jesus’ miraculous powers but His authority as well. For I too am a person subject to authority. Do I recognize Jesus’ authority and the Church He founded?
SCRIPTURE
LUKE 7:11-17
raising of the widow’s son.
Soon afterward he journeyed to a city called Nain, and his disciples and a large crowd accompanied him. As he drew near to the gate of the city, a man who had died was being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. A large crowd from the city was with her.
When the Lord saw her, he was moved with pity for her and said to her, “Do not weep.” He stepped forward and touched the coffin; at this the bearers halted, and he said, “Young man, I tell you, arise!” The dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother.
Fear seized them all, and they glorified God, exclaiming, “A great prophet has arisen in our midst,” and “God has visited his people.” This report about him spread through the whole of Judea and in all the surrounding region.
JESUS RAISES THE WIDOW’S SON
REFLECTION
Jesus sees a funeral procession for the only son of a widow. He not only sees a procession of people, He sees the broken heart of the widow. Jesus’ heart goes out to her, “Do not weep.” Jesus is present in her sorrow and in ours as well. We are not alone. Trust in Jesus!
Embrace Him in our suffering. He will not abandon you anymore than the Father abandoned His Son on the Cross. Jesus rises victorious. We that suffer with Jesus will also rise with Jesus. Imitate Jesus’ human heart when He sees something He does something. If nothing else, when we see a situation like emergency vehicles do we pray that God may intervene?
When the widow’s son rose up and spoke, Jesus gave him to his mother. This was not so much about the son who will die another natural death as his mother who was grieving and in need of her son’s support. Do we pray not only for those who are sick or dying but their caregivers as well and those that grieve?
This story is about the heart of Jesus, a heart in solidarity with us. Love is what we need most, but sometimes dread the most. Love requires selflessness, vulnerability, and a will to address other.
The crowd glorified God, “God has visited His people.” The crowd recognized God’s intervention. Do we look for God’s intervention in our life, in others, in the world? “This report about him spread through the whole of Judea and in all the surrounding region.” Too much for people to keep to themselves. Do we spread the Good News of Salvation wherever we can.
SCRIPTURE
LUKE 7:36-50
pardoning of the sinful woman.
A Pharisee invited him to dine with him, and he entered the Pharisee’s house and reclined at table. Now there was a sinful woman in the city who learned that he was at table in the house of the Pharisee. Bringing an alabaster flask of ointment, she stood behind him at his feet weeping and began to bathe his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them, and anointed them with the ointment.
When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, she is a sinner.” Jesus said to him in reply, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” “Tell me, teacher,” he said.
“Two people were in debt to a certain creditor; one owed five hundred days’ wages* and the other owed fifty. Since they were unable to repay the debt, he forgave it for both. Which of them will love him more?” Simon said in reply, “The one, I suppose, whose larger debt was forgiven.”
He said to him, “You have judged rightly.” Then he turned to the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? When I entered your house, you did not give me water for my feet, but she has bathed them with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You did not give me a kiss, but she has not ceased kissing my feet since the time I entered. You did not anoint my head with oil, but she anointed my feet with ointment.
So I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven; hence, she has shown great love.* But the one to whom little is forgiven, loves little.” He said to her, “Your sins are forgiven, your faith has saved you; go in peace.” The others at table said to themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?”
YOUR SINS ARE FORGIVEN.
YOUR FAITH HAS SAVED YOU. GO IN PEACE.
REFLECTION
A Pharisee invited him to dine with him, and he entered the Pharisee’s house and reclined at table. Though it was a Pharisee that invited Him, Jesus accepted the invitation. There is no where Jesus will not go to spread the Gospel of repent and be saved. What about us? Do we dismiss or disparage others, even say someone is not Catholic though they have been baptized? Perhaps we need to check our judgment of persons when it comes to evangelization. It is not too late for anyone to convert, repent, and believe in the Gospel.
When the Pharisee saw a sinful woman whom he judged as not worthy attending to Jesus, he said to himself, if Jesus was a Prophet he would know this is a sinful woman. Of course, Jesus knew. Jesus also knew Simon’s thoughts and challenges him with a parable. Simon I have something to say to you.
After the parable about the creditor and the debtors, Jesus asks Simon which of the debtors will love him more?
Simon, though forced by reason, answers the one who is forgiven more. Jesus affirms, “You have judged rightly.” Jesus did not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.” Luke 5:12
I can relate. Confessions of the past where there have been more serious matters, when receiving absolution from the priest in the name of Jesus, “I absolve you from your sins…” resulted in much greater love for Jesus on my part. Jesus is my Savior. His mercy endures forever!
Jesus is not ready to let Simon off the hook. Jesus asks Simon “Do you see this woman,” Jesus means do you see this woman like I see this woman. Do we see others as Jesus sees them? So I tell you, Simon her many sins have been forgiven; hence, she has shown great love with her attending to my needs. Do we attend to other people needs?
Jesus says to the woman, “Your sins are forgiven, your faith has saved you; go in peace” Well, whether Jesus got through to others at the table, their own need for repentance is unknown but at least He got their attention.
Others at table said to themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?” Who is this Jesus to us?