Gospel in Art: Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof

Christ and the Centurion by Paolo Veronese, 1571 © Museo del Prado, Madrid

Source: Christian Art

Gospel of 2 December 2024
Matthew 8:5-11

At that time: When Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came forward to him, appealing to him, 'Lord, my servant is lying paralysed at home, suffering terribly.' And he said to him, 'I will come and heal him.' But the centurion replied, 'Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof, but only say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I too am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. And I say to one, "Go", and he goes, and to another, "Come", and he comes, and to my servant, "Do this", and he does it.'

When Jesus heard this, he marvelled and said to those who followed him, 'Truly, I tell you, with no one in Israel have I found such faith. I tell you, many will come from east and west and recline at table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven.'

Reflection on the painting

The word of those in positions of authority often carries significant weight, particularly within institutions like the army. When an officer commands a soldier, obedience is expected. This dynamic forms the backdrop of today's gospel reading, which centres on a Roman centurion in Capernaum. The centurion acknowledges the authority of his own word; when he instructs a soldier to "Go," the soldier goes, or if he says "Come here," the soldier comes. Yet, this centurion was unlike his peers. Despite his understanding of his own authority, he recognised that the word of Jesus carried far greater authority! With remarkable faith, he believed that Jesus could heal his servant with a word alone, without needing to visit his home.

The gospel tells us that Jesus was astonished at the centurion's faith. Usually, it is people who are amazed by Jesus, yet here we see the reverse. Jesus declares, "Nowhere in Israel have I found faith like this." This is one of the reasons why the phrase is now enshrined in the Mass: "Lord, I am not worthy to have you under my roof…" Today's Gospel challenges us to see that faith can arise in the most unexpected places. Like Jesus, we too can be astonished by where the Spirit is at work, often in those who seem far removed from traditional expressions of faith. The centurion, though outside the Jewish faith community, exhibited a quality of trust that inspires us to this day.

Today's painting by Paolo Veronese vividly captures the humility of the centurion, shown kneeling before Jesus in an act of profound reverence. Jesus, adorned with a subtle halo symbolising his divine authority, reaches out his arm towards the centurion, a gesture of compassion and assurance. The vibrant colours of the figures' clothing, the rich reds, blues, and yellows, stand in striking contrast to the muted tones of the white and grey classical architectural backdrop. This architectural setting, with its arches and columns, evokes a sense of grandeur, lending the scene an almost theatrical quality, as though it were a moment staged on a timeless stage. The painting's once belonged to the collection of Thomas Howard, the Earl of Arundel, a prominent English art patron. Following his death in 1646, the work was acquired by Philip IV of Spain, a devout art collector and ruler. The king later sent the painting to the Monastery of El Escorial, where it became part of Spain's rich religious and artistic heritage.

LINKS

Gospel in Art: https://christian.art/
Today's Reflection: https://christian.art/daily-gospel-reading/matthew-8-5-11-2024/