Monday 28 November 2022

Today is Monday the 28th of November, in the first week of Advent.

The Gaudete Ensemble conducted by Eamon Dougamn sing 'veni Jesu'. As we begin the Advent season of waiting, you might like to begin praying today by repeating the phrase, 'Come, Lord Jesus'.

Today’s reading is from the Gospel of Matthew.

Matthew 8:5-11

When Jesus entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, appealing to him and saying, ‘Lord, my servant is lying at home paralysed, in terrible distress.’ And he said to him, ‘I will come and cure him.’ The centurion answered, ‘Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof; but only speak the word, and my servant will be healed. For I also 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 slave, “Do this”, and the slave does it.’ When Jesus heard him, he was amazed and said to those who followed him, ‘Truly I tell you, in no one in Israel have I found such faith. I tell you, many will come from east and west and will eat with Abraham and Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven.’

We begin this first week of Advent listening the story of the Roman Centurion who approached Jesus with such sure faith, that Jesus himself was amazed! Take a moment now to approach Jesus just as you are today.


As the centurion approaches Jesus, he demonstrates both confidence in Jesus’ ability to heal his servant and great humility, saying, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof, but only speak the word, and my servant will be healed.”


Might ‘confident’ and ‘humble’ be words that you could use to describe your faith? Maybe your faith feels constant and strong… or perhaps wounded or weak? Which words come to mind for you as you think about your own faith?


Take a moment to speak with the Lord about these words, remembering that he welcomes you as you are, and looks at you with great love.

As you listen to the reading again, imagine that you are standing close to Jesus and the centurion. Watch Jesus in his amazement of this faith filled encounter. How does he look at the centurion?

As you continue to stand beside the Lord, you may like to open your hands to him and offer him your faith, however it feels, as your gift to him.

Imagine now, that Jesus places a gift into your hands as you begin your Advent journey.

What is this gift?

O Wisdom
Lord and Ruler
Root of Jesse
Key of David
Rising Son
King of the Nations
Emmanuel
Come, Lord Jesus.