“Lord, I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof, but only say the word, and my servant shall be healed.” (NAB, MT 8:8) These are the words of a Roman Centurion who had made the request for Jesus to come and heal the Centurion’s servant. When Jesus agrees to visit his home, we hear an astonishing confession of faith by this Roman: “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.” (MT 8:9) Jesus remarks that nowhere in Israel has he found such faith as revealed in this Roman soldier.
The Centurion understands human authority and obedience, but moreover, he clearly recognizes the supreme authority of Jesus’ words; whatever Jesus says is Truth realized. When Jesus says, “Your sins are healed,” your sins are absolutely healed because Jesus says they are. Jesus is, in fact, the Word of God made flesh. God’s Word is reality! “Let there be light;” there is light. When Jesus speaks, he speaks reality into existence and truth, so when he tells the Centurion that his servant has been healed, it is so, precisely because Jesus says it is.
Do we trust the words of God? Do we believe, as the Roman soldier, that God’s Word is Truth itself, that all of creation is obedient to the sound of his voice? The Good News has been proclaimed to us! Will we receive it? Jesus is the Word of God made flesh! Will we receive him?
Father, you are infinite truth, love, mercy, and healing, revealed through your Word, your Son, Jesus Christ. Your word is truly power. You have the words of everlasting life. Allow me to hear you speak in the depths of my heart. ‘Lord, I am not worthy to receive you, but only say the word, and my soul shall be healed.’ Amen.
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