Addressing at the beginning of the church year

We are beginning to experience a new church year. What kind of year will it be in our lives, family, parish, nation, and the world? Indeed we are among those who begin with optimism at such times. We want to use the days of the new year to gain new graces, to eliminate the mistakes, errors, and imperfections that we have not yet gotten rid of. We want to lift our souls to God, but at the same time, we realize that this may also be a year when the Lord will call us before His judgment.

But even so, he felt:

I believe you can do anything.
I think that you will help me.
I believe that you love my servant too.

Lord, I am a man, and you, Lord, are great, mighty, if you find it, my servant can be healed, and you don’t even have to touch him because I don’t deserve you to cross the threshold of my house, to come under the roof of my dwelling…

Let us, therefore, begin from the beginning to walk the right way – to give ourselves wholly and entirely to Jesus. This is what today’s Gospel encourages us to do. It is the centurion’s response, “Lord, I am not worthy that you should come under my roof, but only say the word, and my servant will recover” Mt (8,8). An exciting event, an encounter. Jesus is already known in Palestine as a miracle worker. He heals, cures, teaches. He acts like one who has extraordinary power. People come to him with different motives. For some, it is enough to see and hear Jesus. Others, burdened by sickness, want to touch at least the hem of his garment and want to be healthy. Still, others who are sick are brought by parents or friends. But they are all Jews.

A Roman officer, a Gentile, also comes to see Jesus. He does not come to ask Jesus for himself, but he asks for his servant, much to his surprise. Indeed, he must have loved him very much or been indebted to him for something. We don’t know. But that is not the point. What is significant is that his servant is seriously ill. The centurion would like to prolong his life, so he pleads, “Lord, my servant is lying at home paralysed and suffering terribly” (Matt. 8:6). Jesus is comforted by the centurion’s request. Everyone around Jesus is surprised: a Gentile begs Jesus? Jesus wants to settle the centurion and immediately answers, “I will come and heal him.” (Mt 8:7). Here the centurion surprises everyone present with his answer. He realizes the difference between him and Jesus, so he says: “Lord, I am not worthy that you should come under my roof, but only say the word, and my servant shall recover” (Mt 8:8). Jesus saw more in the heart of the centurion than those present at his plea. The centurion’s words speak of the virtues this Gentile carried in his het:

Humility – I am not worthy…
Faith – but say the word…
Trust – and my servant shall recover…
Love – I, too, am a subject man…

These are unique words that Jesus could not refuse and, at the same time, not point out to those present what we are all to strive for, in which the Gentile-officer has outdone us. His words wove a beautiful bouquet of virtues that he carried in his heart. The desire for such a bouquet of integrity should be in the heart of each of us in this new church year. Humility, faith, trust, love. This is what Jesus liked about the centurion. Surely it will please him and us. Pride, arrogance, and haughtiness need to be replaced with humility. Instead of self-love, self-privilege, and egotism, we should be more attentive to the needs of others and act with the intention that Christ is also in our neighbor—not procrastinating, not counting, but trusting that Jesus will also reward us with praise.

Let us hear the words: “Go!” And let us genuinely go. “Come!” And let us take the time. “Do it!” And let’s not procrastinate. Lord, thank you for the example you have set for us through the centurion. This example is good advice for the new church year if we want to live it without mistakes, errors, and neglect of good. We know that our optimism alone is not enough, so we ask for your blessing.