As we continue our journey through this season of Lent, I have been reflecting on the miracles of Jesus as recounted in each of the 4 Gospels. Sometimes, a miracle is reported in more than one Gospel, like the healing of the Centurion’s servant, or the friends of the man who is paralyzed lowering him through the roof. Other miracles are only found in one Gospel, like the raising of Lazarus, or the healing of a man who is deaf and unable to speak.
I have read and preached on many of these miracles more than once. And yet, each time I study these passages I discover something new. Two versions of the healing of the Centurion’s servant offer us glimpses of a person who has gained respect from people in the community (Matthew 8, Luke 7). We only know of this Roman by his title. He didn’t need Jesus to come to his home in order for his servant to be healed. Although he is a foreigner and outsider, he expresses belief in Jesus’ authority. In that moment, Jesus praises the Centurion’s faith, grants his request, and heals his servant.
Not unlike the dedication of the friends of the man who is paralyzed, the passages about the Centurion remind us how we can bear witness to our faith. Each Sunday, clergy persons have the opportunity to share our faith stories, reflecting on the subtle and monumental ways our Lord has shaped and is shaping our lives. As servant leaders of our faith communities, we are only a part of God’s story.
What is your story of faith? Which passages in the Old or New Testament resonate with you? In what ways has God touched, or is our Lord touching your life, calling you to a deeper understanding of the relationship we have with our Creator? How is God transforming us as we learn what it means to be loved unconditionally?
How do we declare that for our Lord nothing is impossible, that God is making all things new? How is our Lord speaking to your heart and your soul, calling you to be His hands and feet today and in the days to come?
One of my favorite gospel hymns is called “We’ve Come This Far by Faith”. I believe I have shared it before. The song reminds me that God is with us at all times and in all ways. Our Lord is preparing us to continue to spread the Good News of Jesus throughout the world, to tell how our faith makes a difference in our lives and the lives of those we meet. May we be blessed as we celebrate who we are and whose we are. And Amen.