The
Rev’d. Stephen E. Stults
Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany
St. Paul’s Anglican Church
Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany
St. Paul’s Anglican Church
February
2, 2020
Humility, grace and power
are all evident in our Gospel selection for the day. It is an amazing combination
of these attributes of God, all condensed in one passage of Scripture.
We all know the scene. Jesus is entering into Capernaum, when he
encounters a Roman officer, a centurion.
From the name, century, we anticipate the size of their command,
approximately 100 people, 80 of which were legionnaires, the others were servants. This command could be as large as 200,
depending upon the legion. Centurions in
the legion were roughly equal, except for the primus pilus, or chief
centurion. He was outranked by only
eight other officers in a fully-officered legion.[i]
Centurions held places of
respect and authority in society. They were drawn from the ranks of soldiers,
but according to this ancient source, had to be well qualified:
“Centurions had to be literate (to be able to read written
orders), have connections (letters of recommendation), be at least 30 years of
age, and have already served a few years in the military. They also have had to
be able to boost their soldiers' morale.
The centurion in the infantry is chosen for his size, strength
and dexterity in throwing his missile weapons and for his skill in the use of
his sword and shield; in short for his expertness in all the exercises. He is
to be vigilant, temperate, active and readier to execute the orders he receives
than to talk; Strict in exercising and keeping up proper discipline among his
soldiers, in obliging them to appear clean and well-dressed and to have their
weapons constantly rubbed and bright,”[ii]
Thus, centurions were not to be taken lightly. These were professional soldiers: tough,
smart, and battle-hardened. They were used to taking and giving orders, which
they expected to be obeyed without question.
Thus, it is amazing how this scene
unfolds. A centurion came unto Jesus, “beseeching”
him. This is an archaic word that we 21st
Americans hardly ever use, unless you may be an Anglican. It means, “to ask (someone) urgently and
fervently to do something; implore; entreat. they beseeched him to stay"[iii] It is doubtful this centurion rarely, if
ever, “beseeched” anyone. Yet, here he
is, doing exactly that.
Evidently, the Jewish leaders in the
town told him about Jesus, or he had heard elsewhere. Humility is exhibited
here, as this tough Roman pagan does exactly that. He courteously greets him,
using the world Kurios (Lord), and informs him that his servant is seriously ill
with the palsy. Jesus also exhibits immediate grace, as He says, “I will come
and heal him.” Christ is willing to go to a pagan’s house and perform an act of
mercy. One commentator says everywhere Christ went was better for his being
there.[iv] How true.
Now comes another example of humility,
followed by power. The centurion, in the
words familiar to us, says, “Lord, I am not worthy that you should come under
my roof, but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed.” We employ similar words before we presume to eat
and drink the Sacrament of the Altar each Sunday. They are powerful words, for they acknowledge
our true state before God.
The centurion expounds on
authority. He is a man under it. He takes orders. He also gives orders, and
they are to be followed. He recognizes
the same authority in Jesus, instinctively. Christ marvels at this, and turns
to the crowd following, saying, (Matthew 8:10-12) “ Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in
Israel. 11 And I say unto
you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with
Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven. 12 But the children of the kingdom
shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of
teeth.”
In a wonderful “teaching moment” Christ exclaims that the Gentiles will
hear the Gospel and be joined with the blessed in Heaven, while the very people
to whom Jesus came reject him. He praises the Gentile Centurion, and at the
same time, upbraids the Jews for their unbelief. All of this in three or four sentences. Only Jesus can speak such truth, so
succinctly.
In the end, the centurion receives his request. He is told to go, as the healing is
done. He believes, and his servant is
healed immediately. His faith allows the power of God to be accomplished.
Here is the power of God, tempered by
Grace. Jesus uses His divine power to heal the servant from afar, just by his
powerful Word. The centurion is given
grace to believe it, and act accordingly. He leaves the scene, believing. As he arrives home, he finds his servant
healed, as Jesus said. Recall Christ’s words to the centurion: “Go thy way; and as thou hast believed, so be it done unto
thee.”[v]
What quality did the centurion have that enabled
this? Faith. Although a pagan, he had faith that Jesus was
who He was. He did not question, nor
quibble. He believed.
His request was done unto him according to his
belief.
In the same way, beloved, let us believe
God. Everything is as it should be in
God’s universe. Do we believe God? Do we believe that “…that all things work together for good to them that love God, to
them who are the called according to his purpose.”? (Romans 8:28).
This priest hopes that you do. In the incomprehensible
mystery that is God, all things are as they should be. We must believe God and
trust in Him in all things.
Our lives here are brief.
Consider the events of this week, as sport fans saw one of their icons
and his daughter taken abruptly from the scene.
St. James tells us this: “whereas ye know not what shall be on the
morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that
appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.”[vi] As we trust in God and believe him, as did
the centurion, our lives will be blessed with faith and grace.
In the end, that is what makes the eternal difference.
In the Name of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy
Ghost.
Amen.
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