Pentecost 2 C – Welcoming Difference
Dear Partner in Preaching,
There is so much we don’t know about the story told in this week’s passage:
We don’t know how this Roman centurion heard about Jesus.
We don’t know anything about his military career, what wars he had perhaps waged, what battles fought.
We don’t know why he changed his mind after first asking Jesus to come to him and then sending servants telling Jesus he didn’t need to come but only to speak the word of healing.
We don’t know why he cared so deeply about this slave.
We don’t know if the slave was Jewish and that perhaps played upon the sympathy of the Jewish elders or Jesus.
We don’t know what happened to either the slave or centurion after this encounter with Jesus.
Yes, there is so much we don’t know.
But we do know this: this Roman centurion had heard about Jesus and believed he was capable of healing this beloved servant. And when Jesus sees the demonstration of faith, he not only heals the servant but is amazed.
Did you catch that last part? Jesus. Amazed. By the faith of a Roman centurion. Remarkable.
Why, though, amazed? Because of the depth of the centurion’s faith? Because it was a Roman centurion who had such faith? This we also don’t know. But we do know that Jesus does not ask him to become his follower, or to take up his cross, or to deny himself, or to keep silent, or to share the good news, or any of the other things Jesus often does in similar situations. He only speaks the word of healing while also being amazed at this centurion’s faith.
On the whole, this is a rather surprising and, perhaps, amazing turn of events and scene. I have wondered while reading it how it was received by the original hearers of this Gospel. Keep in mind that Luke is most likely writing this account (also found in Matthew) in the early 80s of the first century, about 50 years or so after these events happened and, notably, 10 years after the Romans destroyed the Jerusalem Temple and brutally quashed the Jewish rebellion against Rome.
So would Luke’s readers have been appalled by this glowing picture of the admirable faith of a Roman centurion? Or would they have recognized this as part of a larger and more concerted effort of the early Christian church to make their story more palatable to citizens of Rome and so would have understood why Luke tells the story this way? Again, we don’t know.
But we do know that when Jesus encounters someone so utterly different from him yet displaying faith, he does not ask him to convert or change or follow, he simply heals and commends.
I wonder how many other people who are not followers of Jesus God is using right now? I wonder how many people of other faiths we might be amazed about if we stopped to notice the good they are doing? I wonder how many people of different faith or no faith we might see differently – as God’s beloved children – if we kept this story in mind?
Here’s the thing: God loves everyone. God works through everyone. God has hopes and dreams for everyone. And we may be surprised who God chooses, who God works through, and who God commends.
I think that may be helpful to keep in mind, Dear Partner, when the political rhetoric of the day is so charged with fear of those who are different – from a different country, professing a different faith, living in a different neighborhood, looking different from us, having different needs or hopes. To God, there is no “other,” there are only beloved children. A colleague of mine was fond of saying that whenever we draw a line between who’s in and who’s out, we’ll find Jesus on the other side.
Few, I think would have expected Jesus to be startled by the faith of this Roman centurion. Yet he was, and that willingness to be surprised, even amazed, coupled with Jesus’ commitment to God’s purpose to heal and save all the world changed history. So what might happen if we were similarly willing to be surprised by whom God is using and similarly committed to sharing news of God’s love for all? Let’s invite our people to find out.
Blessings on your proclamation, Dear Partner. It’s a crazy world, desperate for a word of hope amid all the talk of fear, and so in need of God’s message of love, acceptance and grace. Thank you for sharing that word. What you do has never been more important.
Yours in Christ,
David
Thank you so much. Even more than usual, your words help me focus as I prepare to write my sermon. I have been wrapped up in the idea of Jesus being amazed all week. Now, it is time to stop researching, stop pondering, and start writing!
Thanks again for your great insight, David. I invite you and your readers to reflect on:
A Poem a Sunday
Pentecost 2 – C
May 29, 2016
Presumptive me
to tell God what to do.
Intercessory prayer a childhood dare
insisting on my menu.
The Centurion did not presume
but made room for healing
of the beloved servant –
the salve of salvation.
Liberation by the Savior
made a home in the heart
of the majestic military man
pleading unworthiness
like the lost Prodigal
returning as servant
— not son.
No high handed hierarchy here,
but a humble, strong soldier
hoping for a word,
a gesture,
a sign.
Desperate
not
presumptuous.
And centuries later
his plea embedded
in the MASS
for all unworthy servants.
[A plea for the presence
of the Christ at last
to come and bring
solace to such dis-ease:]
“Lord, I do not presume
to come to you.
But only speak the word
and your servant
will be healed.”
And through the ages
the healing presence comes:
bread on tongue,
wine on lips
brings the body
and the blood
ingested
gestation
of the living Christ
– embodied –
heals the broken.
A
sign
of
the
Divine
‘A Poem a Sunday’
Copyright kennstorck@gmail.com
May be used with permission.
Thank you for this, David. I was headed in a similar direction with my sermon, and this is validating and helpful. I always appreciate your thoughtful posts. Thank you for this ministry.
Very nice poem, Ken,
Thanks David. As always you have great insight here. I just attended the Fesitval of Faiths in Louisville. I heard such wisdom in the representatives of the various faith traditions there. Perfect examples to pair with this text.
Nicely done, Ken. Great way to show what Luke was about–no hierarchy in Christ. Good to hear from you.
Dear David: Thank you for that insight. May I share it in part Sunday? I am a lay speaker subbing for a pastor who has had a brain hemmorhage.
Hi, Debbie. Sorry for the late response. You’re always willing to use anything you find here. Blessings on your proclamation!
Wonderful work as always, David. and Kenn, love your poetry as always too!!!
I wonder if part of Jesus amazement over this mans faith was in the soldiers utter confidence in Jesus being the son of God who could command anything into being. How did a Roman soldier develop such deep revelation of who Jesus was and the kind of authority he had to decree a thing and watch it come to pass? Seems to me It is always that faith that is so pleasing to God. It is what always gets his attention. Hebrews 11:6. “And without faith it is impossible to please God, for whoever would approach him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.”
Waiting Chronology
http://www.davidlose.net/about/
Visitation today. http://www.textweek.com/festivals/visitation.htm May 31 or Iyyar 23. Jesus Hebrew date birth Iyyar 28 next Monday. It was actually sixth Hebrew month Elul. Elizabeth gave birth to John 3 months later. Jesus born 9 months later. https://www.blueletterbible.org/kjv/luk/1/1/t_conc_974026 Caiphas Tomb: What Can It Teach Us About The Life of Jesus? by E.W. Faulstich http://biblechronologybooks.com/ The Abijah Setion of Priests Is there way we can use the priestly sections to confirm Clement’s date–Iyyar 28 or Pachom 25 Egyptian Sliding– for Jesus’ birth? Zechariah’s Last Day of Duty March 19/7 B.C. or Veadar 20 Sabbath Day He would be back on duty 6 months later when Mary visits Elizabeth.
Could you post your stuff earlier in the week? (E.g. Last Sunday, May 27th, is still the lead piece not this Sunday, June 5th.) I love reading your reflections but, as of late, they haven’t appeared until late in the week. My discernment re: my sermons has been lacking your insights.
I’ve been doing the best I can and will keep trying. I’ve just been slammed at work lately and having a harder and harder time keeping up with these reflections. Thanks for your encouragement!