Today's Gospel Reading

Jesus approach Capernum, a town with a Roman garrison commanded by a centurion. The Centurion had a servant who was gravely ill. Word of Jesus' miracles had preceded His arrival to Capernum, and the centurion, a man who had seen much in his travels and was educated, grasped the essential fact that Jesus was God, and appealed to this God walking the earth to save the sick servant in the soldier's house. Jesus' response tells us all we need to know.

MATTHEW 5: 8-13

And when Jesus was entered into Capernaum, there came unto him a centurion, beseeching him, and saying, Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented. And Jesus saith unto him, I will come and heal him. The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed. For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it. When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel. And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven. But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. And Jesus said unto the centurion, Go thy way; and as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee. And his servant was healed in the selfsame hour.

As thou believed, so shall it be done unto thee. This theme of "belief" which runs through Jesus' gospel is neatly summarized in those words to the soldier. You believe, so your desires are satisfied by the Christ who loves you.