Meditations Questions Below.

Letter of St Paul: Timothy 6:9-21

GOSPEL:

Matthew 7:28-8:13New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE)

²⁸ Now when Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were astounded at his teaching, ²⁹ for he taught them as one having authority, and not as their scribes.

Jesus Cleanses a Leper

8 When Jesus^[a] had come down from the mountain, great crowds followed him; ² and there was a leper^[b] who came to him and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, if you choose, you can make me clean.” ³ He stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, “I do choose. Be made clean!” Immediately his leprosy^[c] was cleansed. ⁴ Then Jesus said to him, “See that you say nothing to anyone; but go, show yourself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.”

Jesus Heals a Centurion’s Servant

⁵ When he entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, appealing to him ⁶ and saying, “Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, in terrible distress.” ⁷ And he said to him, “I will come and cure him.” ⁸ 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. ⁹ 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.” ¹⁰ When Jesus heard him, he was amazed and said to those who followed him, “Truly I tell you, in no one^[d] in Israel have I found such faith. ¹¹ I tell you, many will come from east and west and will eat with Abraham and Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven, ¹² while the heirs of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” ¹³ And to the centurion Jesus said, “Go; let it be done for you according to your faith.” And the servant was healed in that hour.

Meditation Prayer and Questions:

Prayer:  Come, Holy Spirit, living in Mary, and inflame my heart with love for Jesus and for my neighbor.

• Is the Lord and His word the sure foundation of your life?
• Do you allow the Holy Spirit to fill your heart with the love and compassion of Christ for others?
• Why did Jesus not only warmly receive a Roman centurion but praise him as a model of faith and confidence in God?
• Are you willing to suffer ridicule in the practice of your faith?
• When you need help, do you approach the Lord Jesus with faith, confidence and humility like the centurion?

“Lord Jesus Christ, increase my faith in the power of Your saving word and give me freedom to love and serve others with mercy as You have loved me.”