Saint Robert Bellarmine, Bishop and Doctor of the Church (Optional Memorial)
They approached Jesus and strongly urged him to come. (Luke 7:4)
Today’s Gospel recounts one of Scripture’s best-known stories about the power of intercessory prayer: Jesus heals an unseen servant with only the power of his word. It’s an inspiring story, but take a look at how it all began. People came to Jesus and urged him, begged him, to come. They weren’t asking on behalf of a family member or a friend or even another Jew. They were asking him to come heal a pagan soldier’s slave. An unlikely believer, the Roman centurion recognized that Jesus, like Caesar, possessed supreme authority. So he sent envoys to convey his request, and Jesus responded!
Many miracles in Scripture occurred because someone went to Jesus on another person’s behalf. Often it was a parent pleading for a child or a friend begging Jesus to intervene. And over and over, Jesus answered their request.
Intercession like this isn’t limited to biblical times. We can all be intercessors. We don’t need a special title or training. In fact, you probably already intercede for your family and friends. But maybe now is an opportunity to learn to pray a little more effectively. How? Like the centurion, try making a plan and pushing yourself to stick with it.
First, find a piece of paper and write down the people, places, and situations that you want to pray for. Maybe it’s people in your own home or parish. Maybe it’s a bitter conflict in a distant country. Don’t let the size of the request deter you.
Next, find a visible place in your home where you can post your list. You might put it on the refrigerator, on your mirror, or beside your Bible. Every time you see the list, picture yourself bringing these petitions to Jesus, just as the centurion did. Ask him to intervene in these situations to bring healing or reconciliation or whatever else is needed.
As time goes by, you may discover that God has answered some of your prayers. Put a check mark next to these. This will remind you that God is listening, even though other prayers seem to go unanswered. In moments of doubt, you can look back on these answered prayers and remember that God knows and hears the requests of his people.
“Lord, I am not worthy, but please come and heal.”
1 Corinthians 11:17-26, 33
Psalm 40:7-10, 17
Saint Augustine (354-430)
Bishop of Hippo (North Africa) and Doctor of the Church
Sermon 62
"Say the word and let my servant be healed"
How did the centurion win the grace of his servant's cure? “I am a person subject to authority...And I say to one, 'Go,' and he goes; and to another, 'Come here,' and he comes; and to my slave, 'Do this,' and he does it. I have power over those under me but I myself am subject to higher authority. So if I, subordinate though I am, nevertheless have authority to give orders, what could you not do to whom all authorities are subject?” This man was a pagan, for the Jewish people were occupied by the Imperial Roman army at that time. So it was as a centurion in Judaea that he was commanding his soldiers...
But our Lord, although he was in the midst of the people of Judaea, was already talking about the Church being spread all over the earth wherever his apostles were to be sent (Mt 8:11). Indeed, the gentiles believed in him without having seen him... Our Lord did not physically enter the centurion's house and, even though absent in body, he was present in majesty and healed both that house and its faith. Similarly, our Lord stood physically only amongst the people of Judaea: other peoples did not see his being born of a virgin, or suffering, or walking, or subject to the condition of human nature, or carrying out divine miracles. None of these things were done amongst the gentiles and yet it was amongst them that what was said about him was fulfilled: “A people I did not know have served me.” In what way did they serve him? The Psalm continues: “As soon as they heard me, they obeyed me” (Ps 18[17]:44-45).