First reading Isaiah 4:2-6
The fruit of the earth shall be the pride and adornment of Israel’s survivors
That day, the branch of the Lord
shall be beauty and glory,
and the fruit of the earth
shall be the pride and adornment
of Israel’s survivors.
Those who are left of Zion
and remain of Jerusalem
shall be called holy
and those left in Jerusalem, noted down for survival.
When the Lord has washed away
the filth of the daughter of Zion
and cleansed Jerusalem of the blood shed in her
with the blast of judgement and the blast of destruction,
the Lord will come and rest
on the whole stretch of Mount Zion
and on those who are gathered there,
a cloud by day, and smoke,
and by night the brightness of a flaring fire.
For, over all, the glory of the Lord
will be a canopy and a tent
to give shade by day from the heat,
refuge and shelter from the storm and the rain.
Responsorial Psalm 121(122):1-2,4-5,6-9
Gospel Matthew 8:5-11
‘I am not worthy to have you under my roof: give the word, and my servant will be healed’
When Jesus went into Capernaum a centurion came up and pleaded with him. ‘Sir,’ he said ‘my servant is lying at home paralysed, and in great pain.’ ‘I will come myself and cure him’ said Jesus. The centurion replied, ‘Sir, I am not worthy to have you under my roof; just give the word and my servant will be cured. For I am under authority myself, and have soldiers under me; and I say to one man: Go, and he goes; to another: Come here, and he comes; to my servant: Do this, and he does it.’ When Jesus heard this he was astonished and said to those following him, ‘I tell you solemnly, nowhere in Israel have I found faith like this. And I tell you that many will come from east and west to take their places with Abraham and Isaac and Jacob at the feast in the kingdom of heaven.’
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A trusting faith
In today’s gospel, a Roman centurion approached Jesus and requested healing for his servant, who was ill. The centurion believed that Jesus did not need to be physically present in his home to heal; he had faith that just His word alone was enough to restore and heal. This reflects a simple yet profound faith that resulted in complete trust in Jesus.
As we embark on this Advent season, let us intentionally turn our hearts toward Jesus, who is the source of our love, peace, and hope. It is easy to become overwhelmed with the problems and concerns of each day, and we feel anxious about what to do next. Today, Jesus reminds us to put our faith in Him, even when we are uncertain about what the future holds. Like the Roman centurion, let us redirect our gaze towards Jesus and bring our needs and concerns to Him with trust.
Reflective question:
How can I have a trusting faith in Jesus, even when I cannot see or understand everything that is happening around me?
Acknowledgment: Reflections are based on “Prayer for Living: The Word of God for Daily Prayer Year A” by Sr Maria Jose FMVD
