Gospel: Matthew 8: 5-11
The first weekday Gospel text for Advent has us as confused as Peppermint Patty at Thanksgiving - what is all this? Why are we starting with the healing of the centurion's servant in our Advent journey? In point of fact there could be no more perfect place to begin, for in celebrating Advent we are once again looking for the presence and coming of Jesus among us in our life today, in our here and now of this moment.
None of us has experienced the historical Jesus when he came incarnate among us in Galilee 2000 years ago. Our encounter with the Lord is like this centurion's servant in today's reading. We are sick and on the point of death. We need the healing presence of the Lord, but he does not come to us directly. He comes to us through the mediation of the Church, of others in our lives just as the centurion did for his servant.
So today we are reminded of the fact that we are healed through the relationships we have with others, and that we can be a source of healing for others in their life as well. This season reminds us of the Church's fundamental mission in the world - to be the source of healing and intercession for others in the world. Advent is our time to renew that commitment to healing and intercession for others before God in the world.
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