But only say the word

Scripture

“So Jesus went with them. But just before they arrived at the house, the officer sent some friends to say, “Lord, don’t trouble yourself by coming to my home, for I am not worthy of such an honor. I am not even worthy to come and meet you. Just say the word from where you are, and my servant will be healed. I know this because I am under the authority of my superior officers, and I have authority over my soldiers. I only need to say, ‘Go,’ and they go, or ‘Come,’ and they come. And if I say to my slaves, ‘Do this,’ they do it.” Luke 7:6-8

Observation

I love this text mainly because of my time at Totino-Grace High School, and the invitation (even as a Protestant) to take part in the all-school Masses. If you are Catholic, this is familiar, if you are not Catholic, in every Mass before the Eucharist (Communion) there is this interchange as Preparation for Communion:

Priest: This is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.
Happy are those who are called to his supper.
All: Lord, I am not worthy to receive you,
but only say the word and I shall be healed

Everyone in attendance (who knows what is coming) responds after the priest’s invitation with the words of this Roman officer, “Lord, I am not worthy to receive you, but only say the word and I shall be healed.” It’s obviously taken from this section of Luke – although, there, the Centurion is asking for the healing of a “highly valued slave“. The Roman officer was not asking for his own healing – but for the healing of another. Jesus was “amazed“ at this man’s faith.

When I read this passage in context I get a very different sentiment than I am reminded of in a Catholic mass. For me, during the Mass, I am reminded of my unworthiness – which is true. I have no right to stand before God and demand that my sins be forgiven or that my prayers be heard. I come, as one unworthy of the God of the universe – who is made acceptable through the sacrifice of Jesus.

In its context, I am not struck by my unworthiness – I am, too, amazed by this man’s confidence. He knows that Jesus has authority (in some way similar to his own) and when he indicates that something should be done it is done. He doesn’t always have to do it – just to “say the word“ and it is taken care of.

This is what I want to take away from this passage – not that Jesus shouldn’t come under my roof [a Jewish taboo] and I am unworthy [although, technically, I am]. I want to remember the faith and conviction of this man, who only waited for Jesus to “say the word” and he knew that it would be done.

Application

The unnamed Roman official, had a practical understanding of how Jesus’s authority was exercised that was over and above all others Jesus had encountered anywhere in Israel. This should inform my prayer life. Granted, Jesus isn’t physically present in the same way – he can no longer be heard to utter the word “go”, but we can still call on him and present our requests. There are others who say, “Lord, if you’re willing“, this Centurion asked, too, but his faith was different – his faith was exemplary.

His faith said, “Jesus, if you want this to happen distance does not matter. If you are willing, it will be done.”

When praying for my family, friends, and all the things that tug at me, this is how I will pray – knowing beyond a shadow of a doubt that if it is God’s will, it will happen.

Prayer

Powerful Lord Jesus, I believe there is nothing too hard for you to do, nothing too distant for your power to reach. I lay these requests at your feet, knowing that if you are willing it will be done!

Reading completed today: Genesis 18, 19, Psalm 3, Luke 7

Luke 7: 1-10
New Ark United Church of Christ, Newark, DE
May 29, 2016

            If you’ve ever been to a Catholic mass, you’ve probably heard or said these words: “I am not worthy to receive you, but only say the word and I shall be healed.” It is the response to the Agnus Dei or Lamb of God: Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world. Have mercy on us. Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world.  Have mercy on us.  Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world.  Grant us peace.

            This
response comes directly from the words of the centurion:  “I am not worthy to have you come under my
roof…but only speak the word, and let my servant be healed.”

            There
are actually two miracles in this story. 
One is the healing of the centurion’s servant or slave.  Let’s unpack that event for just a moment.  In Roman culture most slaves were not valued
as highly as this one.  If a slave was
ill and close to death, the master would simply go out and buy a new one and
allow the other servant to die.  A slave
could be killed by their master for any reason, without consequences.  Words like ‘go’ or ‘come’ or ‘do this’ could
lead to death as much anything else without a second thought.  This centurion is unusual.  He values human life, even that of a slave.

            This
leads to the second and deeper miracle, the sharing of power between Jesus and
the centurion.  The centurion, rather
than seeking out a Roman deity for his request, sends some Jewish elders to ask
Jesus to heal his servant.  It would be
like Captain Picard asking Wesley Crusher to take command of the
Enterprise.   It would be like Mao Tse Tung asking some
Tibetan Buddhist monks to ask the Dalai Lama to come and heal the janitor who
cleans his building.  It would be like the
governor of Michigan asking a homeowner in Flint for a drink of water on the
hottest day of the year.  

The Jewish elders confirm
to Jesus that the centurion is worthy of his request, that he is a friend of
these Jews, having built their synagogue for them.  Even so, the centurion understands
the Jewish faith to the point that he knows that it would be a sin for Jesus to
enter the home of a Gentile, let alone a Roman officer.  So he sends some of his friends to Jesus as
he is on his way to the centurion’s home, to prevent this transgression.  He humbles himself in the way of a slave,
sounding very much like the prodigal son to his father:  I am not worthy to be called your son.  Yet the centurion also recognizes the power
and authority that Jesus has, to the point that they share an equal amount of
power.  Only a word is required and the
desired result will follow.

Episcopal priest and
author Rev. Stephanie Spellers asks, “How can you be Christian, how can you
wear a cross and not understand that it’s all about giving it away?”  She says that in this community we call
Church we are healed enough so we can become healers.  We become centered enough so that we can be
blown apart, because that’s what life and ministry can do, and know that we can
come back to a center again.

Before the birth of the
internet, but especially since its rise, power has been moving from centers of
power to groups and individuals, across boundaries and borders, creating webs
of relationships and interconnections. 
We are now accustomed to relying on many sources of authority rather
than only a few.  Power becomes powerful
when we say the word and give it away, like forgiveness, love, wisdom,
compassion, joy, knowledge, healing, acceptance.

•        
  Think
  of a time when you were in a position of power and authority.  Share an experience of when you gave that
  power away and what it felt like.
•        
  Most
  days do you feel like you have power or do you feel powerless or somewhere in
  between and why?