Monday, First Week of Advent: God's Love is Universal

 A brief reflection on the lectionary readings for today

The first reading taken from the book of Isaiah gives us yet another of the Old Testament prophecies that predicts the coming of the prince of peace. The God who will take command and instruct nations in the ways of peace. "They shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks." Provides us with a visceral image of the power of this new king, a power to end all wars and send men into lives of peace. It is no coincidence today that the gospel tells the story of the centurion's servant. It's important to examine this situation in the historical and religious context of its time. The Romans were not only to the Jews an invader and an unjust occupier, but gentiles, they who were not of the Jewish heritage and faith. The centurion can be interpreted as representing all of us as humanity, approaching Jesus knowing of our incredible unworthiness. When Jesus responds that he will cure the servant, the Centurion responds with one of the greatest confessions of faith in the entirety of the gospels:  "Lord, I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof; only say the word and my servant will be healed." He tells Jesus of his faith in Jesus' authority and power. Jesus' somewhat cryptic response expresses the eventual universality of the call of the gospels, but also the inclusion of those who traditionally in Judaism were the gentiles. "...Many will come from the east and the west..." Jesus' words are an echo of the first reading, which says that God will "impose his terms on many peoples." Today we see that universality of the Church. Across every nation and culture are those words of the centurion spoken in every Mass "Lord, I am not worthy." On this Monday of the first week of advent, let us reflect on God's all-encompassing love, embracing sinners spanning the whole globe to his divine heart.