16 September 2019
Memorial of Saints Cornelius, Pope, and Cyprian, Bishop, Martyrs
The elders who come to Jesus to ask for the healing of the Centurion’s slave make an odd case for him: “He deserves to have you do this for him” (Lk. 7:4). Because the Centurion has been so generous to the Jewish people, because he has helped build the local synagogue and has a genuine love for the people, he naturally deserves for Jesus to help him. As good a man as he is, and as much of a model of faith as he is, of course he does not (nor do any of us) deserve Jesus’ help. And yet Jesus goes.
Jesus goes not because the Centurion deserves it. He helps us not because we deserve it. He goes and He helps because He loves us. The help that we receive is pure gift on His part. The Jesuit priest and philosopher Norrie Clarke was fond of quoting a catechism where a child asks God “why did You make me?” and God responds “Because I thought you would enjoy it!” This is why God has made us, and this is why Jesus comes to us: not because we have earned the right, but simply because He thinks we will enjoy His gift.