Gospel in Art: The centurion said 'Sir, I am not worthy to have you under my roof'

Roman centurion's armour trophy, Terrazza del Pincio, Piazza del Populo, Rome. Designed by Giuseppe Valadier © Alamy / Christian Art

Source: Christian Art

Gospel of 29 June 2024
Matthew 8:5-17

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; but the subjects of the kingdom will be turned out into the dark, where there will be weeping and grinding of teeth.' And to the centurion Jesus said, 'Go back, then; you have believed, so let this be done for you.' And the servant was cured at that moment.

And going into Peter's house Jesus found Peter's mother-in-law in bed with fever. He touched her hand and the fever left her, and she got up and began to wait on him.

That evening they brought him many who were possessed by devils. He cast out the spirits with a word and cured all who were sick. This was to fulfil the prophecy of Isaiah: He took our sicknesses away and carried our diseases for us.

Reflection on the public sculpture

Our black and white photo depicts a Roman centurion's armour trophy designed by Giuseppe Valadier in 1834. He was named official architetto camerale of the Papal States by Pope Pius VI in 1786 and became one of Rome's most celebrated neo-classical designers. His most prominent commission was the clock adoring the right side of the front of St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican. Our trophy of a centurion's military attributes can be found on the Terrazza del Pincio, Piazza del Populo here in Rome.

In today's gospel reading, we hear of Jesus healing from a distance the servant of the centurion and then healing Simon Peter's mother-in-law by touching her hand. In the episode just before our gospel reading, Jesus had healed a leper by touching him. Jesus did not usually heal people from a distance; he often healed them up close, touching the lives of the physically and spiritually broken. If Jesus had gone to the home of the centurion, he would probably have healed the servant by touching him. However, the centurion felt genuinely unworthy to have Jesus come to his pagan home. This man of authority showed tremendous sensitivity to Jesus' Jewishness and great faith in Jesus' ability to heal his servant from a distance.

The gospel reading says that Jesus was astonished by the centurion's words and the attitude he expressed. The Church has shared Jesus' astonishment, which is why a version of the centurion's words has been incorporated into the Mass: "I am not worthy to have you under my roof; say but the word and my soul will be healed." The centurion sought physical healing for his servant; we seek spiritual healing for our souls before receiving the Lord in the Eucharist. Like the centurion, we express our faith in Jesus' ability to heal us from a distance; yet, although he is not physically present, in another sense, he is very close to us, especially when we celebrate Mass. Incredibly close actually. He is present among us, always touching our lives as he touched the hand of Peter's mother-in-law in the gospel reading.

LINKS

Gospel in Art: https://christian.art/
Today's Reflection: https://christian.art/daily-gospel-reading/matthew-8-5-17-2024/