24th Week in Ord. Time, Monday – 13th September 2021 — Gospel: Lk 7,1-10
Repayment of Goodness
Jesus has an encounter with messengers of a Roman centurion, who is both humble and faith filled. He comes to faith in Jesus through the exercise of his authority. His faith is exclaimed aloud by Jesus, even though the centurion is not technically a “believer” – at least by Jewish standards. This non-believer lets his prayer manifested in actions and in his interaction with Jesus. However, he has been very supportive of the Jewish faith. He even spent some of his own money to build Jewish synagogue. When the centurion’s servant became sick, the Jewish elders requested Jesus to do something due to the generosity of this centurion. Since the centurion had shown love and compassion for them, build them synagogue, allowed them to live out their faith in dignity and peace while under military rule, his kindness and mercy endeared Jesus to the Jewish elders. As our past actions often come back either to haunt or help us, so the centurion’s deeds of generosity and kindness repays him in return. The centurion had used his authority to do good to others. As uncharitable actions lead to the exactly opposite, deeds of kindness may lead to mercy and praise.
