Christ and the Centurion
Sebastien Bourdon
1655-1660
Toile, 117 x 147
Posted on 09/17/2007 8:38:30 AM PDT by Salvation
Thanks for the translations and for the art!
O God, come to my aid.
O Lord, make haste to help me.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
world without end.
Amen. Alleluia.
A suitable hymn may be inserted at this point.
| Psalm 135 (136) |
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| A paschal hymn |
| Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his love is for ever. Give thanks to the God of gods, for his love is for ever. Give thanks to the Lord of lords, for his love is for ever. He alone works wonders, for his love is for ever. In his wisdom he made the heavens, for his love is for ever. He set the Earth upon the waters, for his love is for ever. He created the great lights, for his love is for ever. The sun, to rule over the day, for his love is for ever. The moon and stars, to rule over the night, for his love is for ever. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. |
| Psalm 135 (136) |
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| He struck down the first-born of Egypt, for his love is for ever. He led Israel out from their midst, for his love is for ever. With a strong hand and an outstretched arm, for his love is for ever. He divided the Red Sea in two, for his love is for ever. He led Israel out through the sea, for his love is for ever. He overthrew Pharaoh and his army, for his love is for ever. He led his people through the wilderness, for his love is for ever. He struck down great kings, for his love is for ever. Sihon, king of the Amorites, for his love is for ever. And Og, the king of Bashan, for his love is for ever. He gave their land to his people, for his love is for ever. A heritage for Israel his servant, for his love is for ever. He remembered us in our affliction, for his love is for ever. He rescued us from our enemies, for his love is for ever. He gives food to all creatures that live, for his love is for ever. Give thanks to the God of heaven, for his love is for ever. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. |
| Canticle | Ephesians 1 |
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| God the Saviour | |
| Blessed be God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us, in Christ, with every spiritual blessing in heaven. In love, he chose us before the creation of the world, to be holy and spotless in his sight. He predestined us to be his adopted children through Jesus Christ, simply because it pleased him to do so. This he did for the praise of the glory of his grace, of his free gift of us in his Beloved, in whose blood we have gained redemption, and the forgiveness of our sins. This he did according to the riches of his grace, which he gave us in abundance, with all wisdom and discernment, revealing to us the mysteries of his will, because it pleased him to do so. In this action he has planned, in the fulfilment of time, to bring all things together in Christ, from the heavens and from the earth. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. |
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| Short reading | 1 Thessalonians 3:12 - 13 © |
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| May the Lord be generous in increasing your love and make you love one another and the whole human race as much as we love you. And may he so confirm your hearts in holiness that you may be blameless in the sight of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus Christ comes with all his saints. | |
| Canticle | Magnificat |
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| My soul rejoices in the Lord | |
| My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God, my salvation. For he has shown me such favour – me, his lowly handmaiden. Now all generations will call me blessed, because the mighty one has done great things for me. His name is holy, his mercy lasts for generation after generation for those who revere him. He has put forth his strength: he has scattered the proud and conceited, torn princes from their thrones; but lifted up the lowly. He has filled the hungry with good things; the rich he has sent away empty. He has come to the help of his servant Israel, he has remembered his mercy as he promised to our fathers, to Abraham and his children for ever. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. |
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| Our Father, who art in Heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those that trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. |
| Stay with us, Lord Jesus, for dusk is falling. Accompany us on our road, revive our hearts, take pity on us and fill us with hope, so that with our brethren we may recognise you in the Scriptures and in the breaking of bread. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God for ever and ever. Amen. |
| May the Lord bless us and keep us from all harm; and may he lead us to eternal life. |
| A M E N |
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Monday, September 17, 2007 Meditation Luke 7:1-10 Hardly a day goes by when we don’t exercise faith of one sort or another, even if it’s a worldly kind of faith. We turn on our appliances, and have faith that they will work. We have faith that our automobiles will take us safely to our destination. We have faith in our government, believing to some extent that our elected officials will run our communities wisely. We have to exercise at least this much faith, because so much in our lives seems beyond our control. The centurion in today’s Gospel clearly knew what faith was about. So much of what he did as a soldier depended on faith: He had to trust that when he gave an order, his soldiers would carry it out. With the help of grace, he was able to extend that trust to God’s kingdom. When he encountered Jesus, he sensed that he could trust him more than anyone he’d ever met. He knew that if Jesus commanded something, it was as good as done. Consequently, he was elated when he found out that his servant was healed—but probably not that surprised. If we can trust in so many things that, as often as not, don’t deliver the fulfillment they promise, surely we can trust the Lord as this centurion did! We know that his word is true, and he has assured us that he will do anything we ask in his name (John 14:13). Moreover, he has made more than a passing commitment to us. He has made an everlasting covenant with us by his death. He has given us his body and blood in the Eucharist to be our daily bread. Can you take another step today to believe more fully that God can heal you, provide for your needs, and bring peace to your life? We are all dealing with situations that seem difficult, perhaps even impossible. But Jesus is waiting to take on these burdens, if we will only give them to him. He knows what we need before we even ask (Matthew 6:8)—but we do have to ask! As his children, it’s our privilege to seek his help. So don’t make him your last resort. Let him be your first hope instead! “Lord, give me the grace to trust you with every problem I have—and to expect that you will work miracles in my life!” 1 Timothy 2:1-8; Psalm 28:2,7-9 |
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| Other Articles by Monsignor Dennis Clark, Ph.D. Printer Friendly Version |
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| Be Like God, Be a Builder | ||
1 Tim 2:1-8 / Lk 7:1-10
In many parts of mainstream America, there are few epithets more lethal than "lawyer" or "politician." Say either one of those words in a crowded room and you can count on a hostile reaction from bystanders, and probably some horrific stories to justify their feelings. "Did I tell you about the time ..." and so on.
Without arguing either way about lawyers or politicians, you don't have to listen long to hear similar words of disgust or derision about just about every other person or profession you could name. From Mount Olympus we speak with omniscience, certitude, and condescension about far too much, and in doing so we become part of the problem instead of part of the solution.
Any time we pretend to put ourselves outside the circle of human frailty, we both delude ourselves and deprive others of the compassion they need. And that leaves all of us in a heap of trouble.
In today's epistle, St. Paul urges us to pray for those in authority. Jesus would have broadened it still further: "Pray for everybody, but don't just stop with praying from a distance. Come up close and do what you can to encourage your neighbors, and cause them to take heart, and grow into their best selves."
Even the best of us throw too many rocks at our fellow human beings. And that shrinks all of us. Why not instead offer our neighbors an understanding heart, which can see and hear their inner goodness and can name the good foundations that are already there, upon which even better things can be built.
Why not be like God: Be a builder!
Jesus is Lord! A lord gives orders. The way to please a lord is to ask for an order. For example, the centurion sent the message to Lord Jesus: "Just give the order and my servant will be cured" (Lk 7:7). This man understood what it meant to be a lord and have authority over others. He understood Jesus. We also should seek orders from Jesus, our Lord, the Lord of lords. We should read the Bible looking for an order to obey immediately. When we pray, we must not give the Lord orders but sit at His feet, listening to His words (Lk 10:39). We should constantly say: "Speak, Lord, for Your servant is listening" (1 Sm 3:9). Moreover, the Lord wants us even to delight in obeying the parents, husbands, pastors, employers, and leaders He has sent into our lives. In this way we show our delight in His lordship. We love Jesus' orders even more than His promises. We delight in the law of the Lord (Ps 1:2). Jesus' lordship is not merely a title but our way of life. It is our joy to submit to and serve the Lord. Alleluia! Jesus is Lord!One Bread, One Body
<< Monday, September 17, 2007 >>
St. Robert Bellarmine
1 Timothy 2:1-8
Psalm 28
Luke 7:1-10
View Readings
REJOICE IN THE LORD!
"I too am a man who knows the meaning of an order." —Luke 7:8
Prayer: Jesus, may I live to do Your will, not mine.
Promise: "First of all, I urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgiving be offered for all men, especially for kings and those in authority, that we may be able to lead undisturbed and tranquil lives in perfect piety and dignity. Prayer of this kind is good." —1 Tm 2:1-3
Praise: St. Robert delighted in the law of the Lord by consistently standing up for truth and praying for those who opposed him.
O God, come to my aid.
O Lord, make haste to help me.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
world without end.
Amen. Alleluia.
| This is an excellent moment for an examination of conscience. In a communal celebration of Compline, one of the penitential acts given in the Missal may be recited. |
A suitable hymn may be inserted at this point.
| Psalm 85 (86) |
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| A poor man's prayer in time of trouble |
| Lord God, you are full of mercies, patient and true. |
| Turn your ear to me, Lord, and hear me, for I am poor and destitute. Keep my life safe, for I am faithful; O God, save your servant, who trusts in you. Take pity upon me, O Lord, for I call to you all the day long. Make your servant’s heart glad, for to you, O Lord, I have raised it. For you, Lord, are gentle and mild: you are kind to all those who call on you. Let your ears hear my prayer, O Lord! Turn to the voice of my pleading! In my time of trouble I call on you, for you, O Lord, will hear me. No other god is like you, O Lord, and nothing compares with your works. All people – all nations you made – will come and worship before you; they will give glory to your name. For you are great, you work wonders: you alone are God. O Lord, teach me your paths, and I will come to your truth. Make my heart simple and guileless, so that it honours your name. I will proclaim you, Lord my God, and give you praise with all my heart. I will give glory to your name for ever, for your great kindness is upon me: you have rescued me from the deepest depths. O God, the proud rise against me, in the meetings of the powerful they seek my life: they do not keep you in their sight. And you, Lord, are a God of compassion, full of mercies, patient and true. Look upon me, have mercy upon me, give your strength and protection to your servant your servant, the child of your handmaid. Give me a sign of your goodness, let my enemies see it and be confounded; because you, O Lord, have helped me and given me comfort. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. |
| Lord God, you are full of mercies, patient and true. |
| Reading | 1 Thessalonians 5:9-10 |
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| God chose that we should receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us; so that, asleep or awake, we should still live with him. | |
| Short Responsory | ? |
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| Into your hands, Lord, I commend my spirit. - Into your hands, Lord, I commend my spirit. You have redeemed us, Lord, God of faithfulness. - Into your hands, Lord, I commend my spirit. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. - Into your hands, Lord, I commend my spirit. |
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| Canticle | Nunc Dimittis |
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| Keep us safe, Lord, while we are awake, and guard us as we sleep, so that we can keep watch with Christ and rest in peace. | |
| Now, Master, you let your servant go in peace. You have fulfilled your promise. My own eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all peoples. A light to bring the Gentiles from darkness; the glory of your people Israel. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. |
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| Keep us safe, Lord, while we are awake, and guard us as we sleep, so that we can keep watch with Christ and rest in peace. | |
| Prayer | |
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| Let us pray. Give our bodies rest, Lord, to restore them; and let the seeds sown by our labours today grow and yield an eternal harvest. Through Christ our Lord, Amen. |
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| May the almighty Lord grant us a quiet night and a perfect end. |
| A M E N |
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Under Orders
Luke 7: 1-10 Introductory Prayer: Lord, you are my God and I am your creature. I believe in your power over me, like your power over all creation. I hope in your goodness and strength. If can you bring from nothingness into existence, surely you can restore what already exists. I love you, Lord, since you have loved me first. Your love is for all. Petition:Lord, increase my love for my neighbor. 1. “He Sent Elders of the Jews to Him, Asking Him to Come and Save the Life of His Slave” Do I ever intercede for others? Do I truly love? I am faced with this pagan who seeks the good of his slave. How do I compare? When was the last time that I stuck my neck out for someone? The pagan in question was a Roman centurion, supposedly a brutal character; his slave was his slave. Yet, the centurion’s heart swelled with “fatherly” love toward this sick man whom he cared for, more as a “son” than as a slave. Supposedly faithless, he still discovered the call to love in his conscience. And supposedly I am a Christian – so what works of love demonstrate my faith? The Catechism teaches: “By his reason, man recognizes the voice of God which urges him "to do what is good and avoid what is evil." Everyone is obliged to follow this law, which makes itself heard in conscience and is fulfilled in the love of God and of neighbor. Living a moral life bears witness to the dignity of the person” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1706) 2. “Lord, Do Not Trouble Yourself, for I Am not Worthy to Have You Enter Under My Roof.” Love requires humility. I cannot love if I consider myself better than others. Although pride is sterile, humility is not mere humiliation. Perhaps I find it impossible to solve certain situations by my own strength, so I cry out to God. But is my prayer of intercession effective? The question is whether I treat God arrogantly, as if he were a “slave” who needs to answer my beck and call, or if I regard God humbly as my Lord, infinitely greater and more merciful than I, a source of goodness, able to rescue me and others. The centurion, who loved, neither considered himself superior to his slave nor presumed upon any personal merit that his prayer should be heard. He placed his confidence in the goodness and power of God, not in his own strength. Again the Catechism teaches: “ ‘Prayer is the raising of one´s mind and heart to God or the requesting of good things from God.’ But when we pray, do we speak from the height of our pride and will, or ‘out of the depths’ of a humble and contrite heart? He who humbles himself will be exalted; humility is the foundation of prayer. Only when we humbly acknowledge that ‘we do not know how to pray as we ought,’ are we ready to receive freely the gift of prayer. ‘Man is a beggar before God’ (CCC, 2559). 3. “I Tell You, Not Even in Israel Have I Found Such Faith.” Love obeys what is good. The centurion believed in authority. Our wills are naturally inclined to choose what is good. Obedience produces good fruits. One who knows how obey has moral authority. The centurion could command the good in the same way he could subject himself to the Lord, Jesus Christ. Does my life display this same coherence? Does fidelity to my conscience grant me moral authority before others? Does my love beckon God to hear my prayers? “Freedom is the power, rooted in reason and will, to act or not to act, to do this or that, and so to perform deliberate actions on one´s own responsibility. By free will one shapes one´s own life. Human freedom is a force for growth and maturity in truth and goodness; it attains its perfection when directed toward God, our beatitude” (CCC, 1731). Conversation with Christ: Lord Jesus, let me live with steadfast faith, coherence, and a deep love for my neighbor. Teach me to use my freedom with the moral authority of one who always chooses what is good: love of God and love of neighbor. Never let me doubt your desire to bless or rescue the souls for whom you have shed your blood. Resolution: I will find an occasion to purposefully help someone else in need. |
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