Only Say the Word and My Servant Will Be Healed

One of the things that has increased my faith Christ over the past few years is the series "The Chosen."  It is the story of Jesus and his Apostles from their first moments together to the eventual Crucifixion and Resurrection.

The story is taken from the Gospels, but it is the show's creator's vision and interpretation of the stories.  So I'm not sure its really the accepted account by the Catholic Church, but seeing the stories come to life has brought me to tears on many occasions.

The story in the Gospel today is the culmination of the centuriation's belief in Jesus.  In the show the centuriation is Gaius.  He wishes for Jesus to heal his young servant boy.  Jesus offers to come to his house, Gaius refuses saying he is not worthy to have Jesus enter under his roof.  Jesus is so amazed by the faith of a man who has spent a lifetime worshiping many Roman gods that he heals the young boy.

This story shows that no matter what we have done in the past and whatever we have chosen to praise before today does not matter to Christ.  There is time for all of us to be redeemed in His eyes.  He is accepting of all who believe in him.  If a Roman soldier who persecuted Jesus's peoples can be saved none of us is beyond his forgiveness and redemption.

Pray for me this Advent.  I am praying for all of you.