Luke 7:1-10
This morning’s scripture reading is an
interesting healing story in Luke’s gospel.
While some readers may be tripped up by issues of slavery or confusion around
the discussion of authority; the message of healing and grace that is presented
in the text certainly applies to all of us.
This is a scripture reading about breaking down barriers and about the
role that the community plays in healing.
This story is told in a few different
forms throughout the synoptic gospels.
Sometimes the centurion is asking for healing for his daughter, but in
this morning’s reading he is asking for healing for a slave. Some modern readers may be so bothered by the
concept of slavery that they get tripped up in this part of the story. While it is true that slavery is not part of
our modern understanding of a just society, it was a reality in the world in
which Jesus lived. The fact that this
centurion is asking for healing for a slave whose relationship he valued, shows
that he treats the person with a fair amount of respect. Actually, the centurion is speaking on behalf
of one who has no voice in society; so we could read this story as an act of
justice, rather than injustice.
The centurion is a Roman military
authority. While not being himself
Jewish, he seems to know and support the Jewish culture. In fact, the Jewish elders say that he has
helped them in the building and supporting of the synagogues. While he is a Roman outsider to the faith, he
is clearly a supporter and sympathizer with the Jewish cause.
The centurion has heard of Jesus and
so when Jesus enters his territory in Capernaum he sends word requesting that
Jesus visit his home to come and heal his slave. Jesus is on the way to his house when the
centurion sends word again declaring that he does not feel worthy to have Jesus
enter his home. He then goes on with his
discussion of authority.
The centurion is a man of great
authority in the Roman Empire. As he
says, he can direct the actions of servants and soldiers and he can get things
done. It is because he himself knows
authority, that he recognizes the authority that Jesus has. He points out that Jesus’ authority is
greater than his own. The centurion’s
power derives from human authority, but Jesus’ power derives from God. The centurion knows that if Jesus will only
say the word, his servant will be healed.
When Jesus hears this the writer of
Luke’s gospel declares that Jesus was amazed.
He was surprised and astounded, turning to the crowd to say “I tell you,
not even in Israel have I found such faith.”
It is then reported that the centurion’s slave is in good health back at
the house, the requested healing miracle has occurred.
This is one of those interesting
gospel stories that have several layers of meaning and significance. In the time that the text was written, I
think that the writer wanted readers to consider the authority of Jesus, as
well as the extending of the boundaries of the faith community.
The issue of authority is pretty clear
and is central to the text. At the time
that this was written, the people of Israel were subject to the harsh ways of
the Roman Empire. They were folks living
at home but living in occupied territory.
While the centurion in the story was kind and sympathetic to their
cause, that would not be the case with most centurions that they met. The fact that this military commander
recognizes that Jesus’ authority is greater than his own, would be a significant
message to any reader in the time that the gospel was written. The writer of Luke’s gospel wants readers to
know that the power of God represented in Jesus Christ, is greater than the
power of the Roman Empire. It is a profound
message of hope for an oppressed people.
The other point of significance for
the historical reader is that Jesus is transgressing boundaries with
healing. Not only does he heal the slave
of a Roman centurion, an outsider to the faith, but he also lifts up the man’s
faith as an example for all. “I tell
you, not even in Israel have I found such faith.” The writer of this gospel wants us to notice
Jesus crossing traditional lines and boundaries. He consents to heal those outside the faith
community and he points out that even outsiders can come to great faith. This story is showing readers that God’s
favor extends to all, crossing social and cultural boundaries.
These are both great points and make
fine sermons but what really attracted my attention this week was the role of
community. I have read this story a lot
but this was the first time I realized that Jesus never actually talks to the
slave or to the centurion. Jesus never
actually meets these people at all. The
whole story occurs in the voice and relationships of community.
When he hears that Jesus is in town,
the centurion sends word to him via the Jewish elders. And later when he changes his mind about
Jesus’ need to visit his home, the centurion sends word via his friends. Never once does the centurion talk directly
to Jesus, rather he consents to have all of his messages carried by others.
As a person who often likes to speak
for herself, I found this really compelling.
What would it look like to trust others to speak on our behalf to
God? And how does the slave feel about
the whole affair? I can imagine that
some folks would be very embarrassed to have all of this fuss occurring on
their behalf, even if they were seeking healing. I know quite a few people who are not even comfortable
having their name on a prayer list, let alone a long drawn out public affair
like is happening in this story. It is
hard to let others know how vulnerable we are, and it is hard to ask others to
appeal to God on our behalf. In the
American “pull yourself up by your bootstraps” culture, this kind of community
of caring is easily looked down upon.
In the time this gospel was written,
the role the community plays in this story is natural and practically insignificant. In our own time, it is a blatant example of
how the Christian culture differs from the world at large. We live in a culture that teaches us to go it
alone, to make our own way. From
anti-establishment political candidates, to heroes who make their own paths on
the big screen, to admiring those who are self-made millionaires, we live in a
culture that emphasizes the power of one.
We are taught to strengthen our resolve, to never show weakness, and to
make our own way through the world as hard working individuals. This story goes against all of those norms.
In our gospel reading, the slave does
nothing whatsoever to secure his own healing.
He doesn’t even ask for it. The
centurion, who is working on his behalf, doesn’t go directly to Jesus to seek
help but sends other community members in his stead. From the synagogue leaders to the friends of
a Roman centurion, the whole community is banding together to ask for healing
on the slave’s behalf.
We do the same thing here every
Sunday. Every week we gather here to
lift up in prayer those that are in need of healing. More often than not, those people are not
among us. In fact, oftentimes we are
praying for people that we don’t even know.
We pray for those that are beloved by someone here, even if we have
never met the person. This is the role
of the caring community; to lift each other up in prayer and to petition God on
each other’s behalf.
I know that you have heard me say it
before, but you cannot live a life of faith alone. You cannot have a solitary faith. You cannot be practicing faith and not attending
church, because faith is nothing apart from community. It is in the community that we come to know
God, it is in the community that we experience healing, and it is in the
community that we learn to allow others to speak on our behalf. It is in the community that we offer our best
prayers and it is in the community that our prayers are answered. Followers of Christ are the community of
caring.
We can’t be the community of caring if
we aren’t honest with each other. We
can’t do it if we don’t recognize and allow vulnerability in this place. I need to be honest about the part of me that’s
hurt, if you are going to help me pray for healing. I need to be open about what causes me pain,
if we are going to petition God together.
I need to be brave enough to admit that I am in need, if we are going to
be the caring community of faith. It
takes courage and strength to admit your weaknesses.
Our call today is to be a caring
community of faith. We are called to
petition God on each other’s behalf, to ask for healing and wholeness. We are called to let others speak for us, to
trust those we know and love to stand between us and the world. And we are called to embrace healing as it
comes to us, like the slave who only receives in this story and doesn’t have
the chance to give. We are called to be
the community of caring together, and to recognize and celebrate healing in our
midst. Amen.
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