He deserves to have you do this for him

12 SEPTEMBER (Lk 7,1-10)
The merit is an obligation of Justice contracted with the Lord. When a man observes with fidelity the Word of the Lord his God he acquires before the Lord the right to receive all those goods that the observed Word contains in itself. The mercy of God gives the Word that contains for us the good. However, it is the observance of the Word that becomes an obligation of justice in God. If mercy is not transformed into an obligation of justice in God, it remains promised mercy, but that might never in any way be given. Man, with his obedience to the Word, did not turn it into a debt of justice. This truth has already been revealed by the Lord to Abraham, right at the beginning of the history of salvation.

Sometime after these events, this word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: “Fear not, Abram! I am your shield; I will make your reward very great.” But Abram said, “O Lord GOD, what good will your gifts be, if I keep on being childless and have as my heir the steward of my house, Eliezer?” Abram continued, “See, you have given me no offspring, and so one of my servants will be my heir.” Then the word of the Lord came to him: “No, that one shall not be your heir; your own issue shall be your heir.” He took him outside and said: “Look up at the sky and count the stars, if you can. Just so,” he added, “shall your descendants be.” Abram put his faith in the Lord, who credited it to him as an act of righteousness (Gen 15,1-6).

Today this truth is as if it were gone from our faith. People want to base everything on the Lord’s mercy. No one knows and wants to know, that the Lord’s mercy must necessarily be transformed by us into right, into justice and into obligation. Christ Jesus is the Father’s mercy. He is the promise mercy and placed all at our disposal. When does it become ours? When we transform it into a debt of justice, right and obligation. This happens only with our faith in His Word. We believe, we live his Word, the Father has and is obliged out of justice to give to all the goods promised to those who believe and live in His Word.

The Centurion has contracted with the Lord a debt of justice. He loves his people. He built for it the synagogue. This is a great gesture of love and respect both to God and to the children of Israel. Can Jesus not correspond with love to so great a love? He is the son of the Lord’s people. The centurion has also built the synagogue for Him, allowing it to be able to honour the Lord as it is fitting. Might Jesus be deaf to the cry of pity gushing from a broken heart that does not look for things for itself, but for one of its servants? Is this prayer also the result of his great love for others? Might Jesus be surpassed in love by a pagan?

When he had finished all his words to the people, he entered Capernaum. A centurion there had a slave who was ill and about to die, and he was valuable to him. When he heard about Jesus, he sent elders of the Jews to him, asking him to come and save the life of his slave. They approached Jesus and strongly urged him to come, saying, “He deserves to have you do this for him, for he loves our nation and he built the synagogue for us.” And Jesus went with them, but when he was only a short distance from the house, the centurion sent friends to tell him, “Lord, do not trouble yourself, for I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof. Therefore, I did not consider myself worthy to come to you; but say the word and let my servant 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.” When Jesus heard this he was amazed at him and, turning, said to the crowd following him, “I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such faith.” When the messengers returned to the house, they found the slave in good health.

Never lets God be outdone in love and he always fulfils every debt of justice. Jesus said it: “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.” To this man, who has lived and lives mercy all heavenly mercy is due. But not only is the centurion a man of great charity, he is also one of profound faith. He sees Jesus as the person to whom all creation obeys. Jesus does not have to move. Is it sufficient that He says a word and his servant will be healed? His faith is great!

Virgin Mary, Mother of the Redemption, Angels and Saints make us of great charity and faith.