The Third Scandalous Mystery
Centurions were honored soldiers of the empire. They were known for their loyalty and command authority. One could almost imagine the crowd cringing backward at his approach. He was both feared and hated among the Jews. And yet, here was one sympathetic to their religion. He had won the respect of those who knew him and he supported their faith community. The stories have spread about a wonder worker and healer. When his servant becomes ill he does not hesitate to seek out Jesus. Our Lord offers to go to his house. But the soldier knows that this will make for further complications. Those who want Jesus out of the day will exploit every scandal and eyes were watching. The centurion demonstrates a genuine faith that does not have to see in order to believe. Humbly he says that he is not worthy for the Lord to enter under his roof. It is enough that Jesus should utter a saving word. Jesus was so amazed that he praises the faith of this Gentile over that of all his own people. It is evidenced here that the Jesus was not simply the Jewish Messiah but the Savior of the world. The centurion is sent on his way with the assurance that his intercessory prayer was granted. Who is to say what ripples resulted from this? There has been much speculation about what became of this centurion. While it would come after centuries of persecution, he and his faith would prefigure the conversion of the Roman Empire. Do we have his kind of faith?
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