Have confidence in God. Faith is a condition for answered prayer.

God has offered man to trust Him. Why should I trust God and not, for example, doctors…? Jesus said (to the centurion), “Go, your son lives!” (Jn 4:50).

Capernaum was one of those larger cities. At that time, this city, like all the rest of the territory, was under the rule of the Roman Empire. In this city lived a certain centurion, a Roman citizen, who had about one hundred people under his charge. The centurion had a high position in society and was a pagan. He sends the Jewish elders with a request to go to Jesus and intercede for the sick man. Each synagogue had a congregation of elders who managed the community’s affairs. A Gentile was considered unclean, and the centurion did not want Jesus to defile himself by coming to him. This centurion cared very much for his servant. The servant must have been a very good man for the centurion himself to stand up for him.

The elders come to Jesus and intercede, not for the sick man, but the centurion, extolling his virtues. They praise his goodness. He deserves you to do this to him because he loves our nation and built us a synagogue. The centurion loves the people. He notices their needs, so he is popular in the community. Jesus hears their plea and goes to him, but others come to Jesus saying that the centurion doesn’t consider himself fit for Jesus to come to him, and he says that he too has his subordinates, to whom if he says something, they will do it. Here Jesus highlights his great faith.

The centurion is a Gentile and has believed in Jesus. The evangelist points out that those who receive him are not the scribes and Pharisees. Those who should recognize in the person of Jesus the Messiah, but they do not, but Gentiles and sinners believe in him. Miracles are signs of the coming of the kingdom of God. God is almighty. Just one word, and you are healed.

St. John Mary Vianney said: “God is almighty, he can always work miracles and do them even now, but people lack faith.”

It must be as strong as that of today’s centurion. The centurion believed, believed very much, and did not doubt. That’s why Jesus praised his faith. Even the Israelites did not have the confidence that this Gentile had. Do you think miracles don’t happen now? They do happen; you have to have faith. God knows very well what will befall us. Physical suffering is not the worst thing that can occur to a man. In suffering, one feels more the nearness of God, faith is more alive, while those who suffer nothing forget the good Lord God.