Daily Office Readings for Tuesday of Proper 22: Year 2
Psalms [120], 121, 122, 123; 124, 125, 126, [127]; Micah 1:1to 9; Acts 23:12 to 24; Luke 7:1 to 17
“When Jesus heard this he was amazed at him, and turning to the crowd that followed him, he said, ‘I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such faith.” (Luke 7:9)
Here is yet another example of Jesus raising our awareness of the faith of non-Israelites. I have learned from reading Acts, that the Tribune is over the centurions, but even the centurions have privilege and power. In this case, it is the Gentile centurion who values his relationship with his slave (which the same Greek word also means servant), so much that he seeks out Jesus to save his life.
This Gentile centurion models the understanding that we should have; that is, we do not have to have the physical Jesus under our roof to do the healing. We too, like the centurion, must believe that if Jesus just says the word, regardless of where he is, the healing will be done.
This is the kind of faith that is really needed now during this time of COVID 19. We can’t get a pastor to every sick person. In some cases it’s hard to even get first responders to where they are needed.
My beloved people of faith, you who are true believers, you must find a still, quiet place in your homes and in your hearts and quietly and intentionally ask our Lord Jesus to just say the healing words for the one you love who is in trouble. When you do this, I have found that relief often comes in one of two ways. First, perhaps the first responders do arrive on time, or some other human response. Second, the situation seems to just resolve itself. Both are born of our Lord Jesus. But we must have the faith of this centurion. As I have said before, Jesus uses the faith in us to heal us. It is astonishing to me that the cure is already in me but I can’t make use of it. Faith is like a first aid kit on a military person’s belt. One might think he or she has the first aid kit in case they have to use it on someone they find that is injured. But no, you have that first aid kit in order that if you yourself are wounded, whoever finds you will use your first aid kit to assist you. Therefore, it is so important that you examine the kit often to make sure it contains all that is necessary in case you are in need of it. The same is true with our faith.
Jesus is the one who finds us but then uses our “faith-aid” kit to heal us. Our Lord Jesus has been doing this remotely, as far back as two thousand years ago. How about this for remote healing?; and these people back in antiquity never heard of COVID 19. Our God is amazing! Thank You Lord Jesus.
Let us hear what the Spirit is saying to, and through, the saints of God, and then ponder anew what the Almighty can do. John
onewhoponders 