1st Week of Advent, Monday – 29th November 2021 — Gospel: Mt 8,5-11
Model of the Sermon on the Mount
The Gospel of Matthew projects Jesus’ warning of worldly rulership as oppressive and authoritative (chapter 23 of Matthew). He pointed out that the leaders misuse their authority to make their subjects do what they wanted them to do. He said, “Therefore, do whatever they teach you and follow it; but do not do as they do, for they do not practice what they teach.” (Mt 23,3). On the contrary, in this narrative, Jesus highly appreciates the centurion for expressing unworthiness in his authority and exhorts others to follow him saying, “Truly I tell you, no one in Israel have I found such faith.” (Mt 8,10). Even though the centurion exercised “lordship authority” by being part of the Roman hierarchy, his compassion towards the sick servant makes him different. And Jesus’ admiration evokes an inspiration to look at him for some traits of Jesus’ teachings from the Sermon on the Mount, even though the centurion never heard Jesus’ teachings.
With his behavioural attitude and genuine love in acting for the good of the other, he mirrors many aspects of the ‘authentic discipleship’ of the Sermon on the Mount. In his merciful consideration for the marginalized and his noble intention to exceed the reciprocal nature of service, he exhibits overwhelming and all-embracing love of God the Father (Mt 5,43-48; 22,34-40). In transcending all barriers to do good, even as an insignificant single character, he becomes valuable like the ‘salt of the earth,’ (Mt 5,13a), and through his whole-hearted trust in Jesus’ power becomes a ‘shining light’ (Mt 5,14b) to dispel the darkness of faith. In living out the Jewish form of prayer, ‘ask, seek, and knock,’ (Mt 7,7-8), he encourages individual persistence and assurance of the Father’s goodness. In asserting that God can and will act on his behalf, he out-threw the basic human preoccupation and anxiousness (Mt 6,25-34). In recognizing Jesus as a ‘true prophet’ who bears good fruit, (Mt 7,16-20), he reaped for himself the fruit of his faith and an instant healing for his servant in the way he wanted. Practically in living out the diverse teachings of Jesus, without ever having heard of them, the centurion gains ‘greater righteousness’ and merits entrance into the kingdom (Mt 5,20), an assurance for implementing the Sermon teachings.
