under authority

Good morning sisters and brothers,
We're back to Luke this morning and we go with Jesus to Capernaum. Jesus has just finished his sermon on the plain (concluding with the story of two men who built houses, one on a rock and one on sand. As he comes into the city Jesus is approached by Jewish elders who ask him to heal the slave of a local centurion. Centurions were Roman military officers who commanded 100 soldiers. As a result they were pretty important local people. In this case the centurion has a good relationship with local Jewish leaders and has paid to have the synagogue built.

In Luke more than the other Gospels Jesus talks with and does miracles for people outside of Israel. Here, Jesus says he hasn't found faith like the centurion's in Israel so he marvels. The centurion seems to feel a kinship with Jesus because they both know the weight of authority; at the same time he knows he's not worthy of Jesus' time. May we never let the sense of our unworthiness get in the way of getting to know Jesus better.

God bless,
Sam

Luke 7:1-10
After Jesus had finished all his sayings in the hearing of the people, he entered Capernaum. 2A centurion there had a slave whom he valued highly, and who was ill and close to death. 3When he heard about Jesus, he sent some Jewish elders to him, asking him to come and heal his slave. 4When they came to Jesus, they appealed to him earnestly, saying, “He is worthy of having you do this for him, 5for he loves our people, and it is he who built our synagogue for us.”

6And Jesus went with them, but when he was not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to say to him, “Lord, do not trouble yourself, for I am not worthy to have you come under my roof; 7therefore I did not presume to come to you. But only speak the word, and let my servant be healed. 8For I also am a man set under authority, with soldiers under me; and I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes, and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes, and to my slave, ‘Do this,’ and the slave does it.”

9When Jesus heard this he was amazed at him, and turning to the crowd that followed him, he said, “I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such faith.” 10When those who had been sent returned to the house, they found the slave in good health.