Daily Gospel Reflection for September 16, 2019

Today's Gospel: Luke 7:1-10 - Memorial of Sts. Cornelius and Cyprian To follow in faith would mean to accept the word of another as true. However, to believe in the word of another would require accepting that word as coming from someone in authority who has sufficient knowledge and comprehension of the subject that is being passed on. Isn’t it interesting to ponder the centurion’s words to Jesus in the light of this thought? The centurion, though Roman and culturally opposed in almost every way to Jesus, not only admits to Jesus that he accepts His authority as Lord and healer, but also openly shares this conviction with friends. His belief in the authority of Jesus Christ humbles the centurion to the point that he cannot even bring himself to allow Jesus to come into his home. Tirelessly and without pause, Jesus had been working to spread faith among His own people, the people whom God had chosen to save from slavery and reveal His very Nature. Jesus understood perfectly this profound depth of unexpected faith and its cost to the centurion, and He was amazed. Not even among His own people had He seen faith taken to such an extent. This was an extravagant faith, acknowledging the complete authority of Jesus Christ as Lord. It was the kind of faith that Jesus longs for us to have today. “Blessed are they who have not seen and yet believe” (John 20:29). Believing without seeing -- this is the extravagant faith to which we are called. It is this faith that continues to change the course of history and our lives for eternity.

Ponder:

Do I have an extravagant faith? How much do I want Jesus to be amazed at my faith? What can I do to increase my faith so that I can grow closer to Jesus?