SAVE YOUR PEOPLE AND BLESS YOUR INHERITANCE

SAVE YOUR PEOPLE, LORD AND BLESS YOUR INHERITANCE

(MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2019
The Memorial of SS Cornelius and Cyprian, Martyrs)

In today’s First Reading and the Responsorial Psalm, we are reminded about having a relationship with God. The response to the Psalm says” Blessed be the Lord, for He has heard my prayer” seems to be the overriding message in the readings. In order for us to have a relationship with God, we have to have self-knowledge and self-awareness. If we are paying attention to what is happening in our lives and the lives of others and have faith that God intends for us to use our gifts to help and to be present for others, we do, in fact, need to make our requests to God. Our relationship with God frees us to ask for help, guidance, and rightful decision-making, trusting that God does provide. When we pray for what we think we need we also have to be open to what will be given along with guidance as to how to respond and move forward with what has been presented.

The Responsorial Psalm goes on “Save your people, and bless your inheritance; feed them and carry them forever” We need not forget that God is always with us when we facing the challenges and vicissitudes of life. Knowing that God is carrying us, knowing that God loves us and knowing that God will see us through life’s difficulties, disappointments and challenges is an act of Faith- faith that is seen in the Centurion, in today’s Gospel. In the Centurion, who sends his friends to say to Jesus, “Lord do not trouble yourself and not worthy to have you under my roof but only say your words, my servant shall be healed” We see hear an act of humility, faith and trust.

The Centurion, a man of Faith and a man with power and authority in society is humbled by God and the power of God to affect his life and the life of his slave. Knowing this, he questions whether he is even worthy of God (in spite of his authority as a Centurion) but because he does have faith and a relationship of belief in the goodness of God he seeks help from God. In this passage, the Centurion is credited by Jesus for his loyalty, concern and care of his slave "who is ill and close to death." The Centurion does not leave his dying servant, not even to go to Jesus to ask healing for his servant. Jesus is amazed at the faith of the Centurion who recognizes that his calling is to family, to his extended household, to his slave.

The Centurion speaks to Jesus about his understanding of loyalty and dependability. He is a man responsible for his household.
If we go to God with our concerns and ask for what we think we need and are trusting in God’s time and in God’s ways in answering our prayers we, like the Centurion, can remain humbly faithful.

Let Us Pray: Help me O Lord to pray to you always with faith and may my prayers be acceptable in your sight. Amen.