Walk in the Light of the Lord for Our Advent Journey in Search of Christ at His Arrival - Monday of the First Sunday of Advent

The Gospel Reading of Monday of the First Week of Advent (Matthew 8:5-11) is  about Jesus’ response to a Roman centurion, who sought Jesus and spoke of his paralyzed servant’s terrible suffering.  Though the Gospel text does not say that this centurion specifically asked Jesus to heal his servant, Jesus said to this Gentile:

I will come and cure him (Matthew 8:7).

Perhaps, this would have shocked Jewish people at that time, because it was in the Jewish custom that Jews were not to enter Gentiles’ houses. Because Jesus was a Jewish man, it was unthinkable that he would go to a Roman centurion’s house. Besides this Jewish custom, Jews under Roman occupation hated Romans, perhaps, unless they were Sadducees, who had a cordial relation with Roman rulers. 

A centurion is a Roman military officer with an honorable status, commanding a unit of 100 legionaries. A Roman official, like him, would contact a Sadducean high priest or noble man, if he had needed to contact a Jew. But this Roman centurion came to Jesus for his servant. This suggests that the centurion knew Jesus had the power to heal the sick that nobody else did. And, he was very humble and respectful to Jesus, though Sadducees and other Jewish leaders despised him. 

So, the centurion responded to Jesus’ offer to come to his house:

Lord, I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof; only say the word and my servant will be healed. For I too am a person subject to authority, with soldiers subject to me. And I say to one, “Go,” and he goes; and to another, “Come here,” and he comes; and to my slave, “Do this,” and he does it (Matthew 8:8-9).

As a Roman military commander, the centurion knew his authority over soldiers and servants. At the same time, he acknowledged the fact that he himself was subject to the authorities of those whose ranks are higher. By saying the above words, the centurion saw Jesus’ authority was higher than his. That is why he thought that he was not worthy to have Jesus come and enter his house. Seeing Jesus with higher authority, the centurion probably wanted him to command him what he could do to help his servant. And he was willing to obey what Jesus would command. For his military career, this centurion faithfully followed Caesar’s authority. But for his servant, the centurion humbly submitted himself to the authority of Jesus. 

In fact, Jesus was amazed at the centurion and said:

Amen, I say to you, in no one in Israel have I found such faith. I say to you, many will come from the east and the west, and will recline with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob at the banquet in the kingdom of heaven, but the children of the kingdom will be driven out into the outer darkness, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth (Matthew 8:10-12).

Here, Jesus shifted the gear, making an eschatological statement, prompted by the centurion’s faith and genuine care for his servant. And he indicated that faithful Gentiles, like the centurion, would be found at the heavenly banquet (Matthew 8:11; cf. Revelation 19:9; cf. Mathew 22:2; cf. Luke 5:35). In contrast, Jesus was critical of “the children of the kingdom”(Matthew 8:12), namely, the Jews, because, in general, their faith was not like that of the centurion, who was Gentile. 

And Jesus said to the centurion:

You may go; as you have believed, let it be done for you (Matthew 8:13a)

So the servant of the centurion was healed at that very hour (Matthew 8:13b).

Reading this Gospel narrative for Advent, we must find when and where Christ is coming, as the centurion did. Advent is not a period of passive waiting for Christ’s coming. It is a season of active search for Christ, while he is on his way. And, as exemplified by the centurion, our faith must be pleasing to him. At the same time, we must submit ourselves totally to Christ’s authority, as the centurion did, regardless of our authorities over others. 

When Christ arrives, those whose faith is like that of the centurion will stream to the house of the Lord on the holy mountain top for peace from all nations, as poetically described in the First Reading (Isaiah 2:1-5). 

The house of the Lord may be referred to the Temple on Mt. Zion, Jerusalem. But for us, in the context of Advent, it is rather the body of the incarnated Christ. In particular, it is the body of the risen Christ (i.e. John 2:19). 

Remember, there is no Temple in the New Jerusalem, upon Christ’s second coming (Revelation 22:22). There will be him with his risen body and his throne, to which we will gather, as Christ judge us to have faith like the centurion in the Gospel Reading (Matthew 8:5-11). 

Christ did not necessarily bring peace upon his first coming (i.e. Matthew 10:34-36; Luke 2:24-34). Nevertheless, he is the prince of peace (Isaiah 9:6) and gives peace that the world cannot give (John 14:27). 

Peace in this world is only temporary, as everything in this world is so, including the Temple in Jerusalem. But the peace only Christ can give (John 14:27) is permanent. And it will prevail in his Kingdom and in the house of the Lord. And his Word is reminding of this truth so that more and more people in the world will have faith and come to the Lord. Our path to the house of the Lord – our Advent journey – is in the light of the Lord (Isaiah 2:5).

Let us walk in the light of the Lord for our Advent journey to find our Lord Jesus Christ, the King of the Universe, prince of peace, and the house of the Lord, at his arrival.