MARY, OUR MOTHER

SCRIPTURE COMMENTARY #206

"Lord, trouble not thyself; for I am not worthy that thou shouldst enter under my roof. For which cause neither did I think myself worthy to come to thee: but say the word, and my servant shall be healed. For I also am a man subject to authority, having under me soldiers: and I say to one, Go, and he goeth: and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doth it." Which Jesus hearing, marveled: and turning about to the multitude that followed him, he said: "Amen I say to you, I have not found so great faith, not even in Israel." (Luke 7:6-9)

THE VIRTUES OF THE CENTURION:
1.) COMPASSION. He had bought this slave with money, and had he died, he could easily have bought another, for he was very rich, or else he could not have built the Jews a synagogue. But he had a kind and compassionate heart, and he was full of pity for his slave, who was suffering such acute pain, and wished to do what he could to help him. His kindness of heart showed to great advantage beside the hardness of heart of the Scribes and Pharisees (Matt. 23:23). "Blessed are the merciful."

2.) FAITH. The centurion's compassion was the means of his receiving the gift of faith. His compassion made him seek for help from Jesus. He had heard of the miracles which our Lord had already worked, and, by God's grace, what he heard engendered in his heart a firm belief that Jesus was the Messiah whom the Jews expected, and that He was able, without even entering his house, to save his servant from certain death.

3.) HUMILITY. Faith made the centurion humble. The Jewish ancients said about him: "He is worthy that Thou shouldst help him," but he himself said to Jesus: "Lord, I am not worthy" etc. He felt his sinfulness and nothingness acutely in the Presence of Jesus, the Holy and Almighty One, even as Peter felt at the time of the miraculous draught of fish, when he said: "Depart from me, O Lord, for I am a sinful man."

[From 'A Practical Commentary on Holy Scripture' by Bishop Knecht, D.D.] (1899 Douay-Rheims Bible)