I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel!

Now when He concluded all His sayings in the hearing of the people, He entered Capernaum. And a certain centurion's servant, who was dear to him, was sick and ready to die. So when he heard about Jesus, he sent elders of the Jews to Him, pleading with Him to come and heal his servant. And when they came to Jesus, they begged Him earnestly, saying that the one for whom He should do this was deserving, "for he loves our nation, and has built us a synagogue." Then Jesus went with them. And when He was already not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to Him, saying to Him, "Lord, do not trouble Yourself, for I am not worthy that You should enter under my roof. Therefore I did not even think myself worthy to come to You. But say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I also am a man placed under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to one, 'Go,' and he goes; and to another, 'Come,' and he comes; and to my servant, 'Do this,' and he does it." When Jesus heard these things, He marveled at him, and turned around and said to the crowd that followed Him, "I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel!" And those who were sent, returning to the house, found the servant well who had been sick.

Now it happened, the day after, that He went into a city called Nain; and many of His disciples went with Him, and a large crowd. And when He came near the gate of the city, behold, a dead man was being carried out, the only son of his mother; and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the city was with her. When the Lord saw her, He had compassion on her and said to her, "Do not weep." Then He came and touched the open coffin, and those who carried him stood still. And He said, "Young man, I say to you, arise." So he who was dead sat up and began to speak. And He presented him to his mother. Then fear came upon all, and they glorified God, saying, "A great prophet has risen up among us"; and "God has visited His people." And this report about Him went throughout all Judea and all the surrounding region.

- Luke 7:1-17

Over the course of the past several readings, we have been hearing what is called Jesus' Sermon on the Plain. (It has been given this name because, we are told, Jesus "stood on a level place.") It is a reflection of Jesus' teachings which He preached in many places, over the course of His three years' ministry, and it resembles the much longer Sermon on the Mount (found in Matthew's Gospel). See Blessed are you poor, for yours is the kingdom of God, You will be sons of the Most High, and Can the blind lead the blind? In today's reading, Jesus returns to Capernaum.

Now when He concluded all His sayings in the hearing of the people, He entered Capernaum. And a certain centurion's servant, who was dear to him, was sick and ready to die. So when he heard about Jesus, he sent elders of the Jews to Him, pleading with Him to come and heal his servant. And when they came to Jesus, they begged Him earnestly, saying that the one for whom He should do this was deserving, "for he loves our nation, and has built us a synagogue." Then Jesus went with them. And when He was already not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to Him, saying to Him, "Lord, do not trouble Yourself, for I am not worthy that You should enter under my roof. Therefore I did not even think myself worthy to come to You. But say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I also am a man placed under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to one, 'Go,' and he goes; and to another, 'Come,' and he comes; and to my servant, 'Do this,' and he does it." When Jesus heard these things, He marveled at him, and turned around and said to the crowd that followed Him, "I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel!" And those who were sent, returning to the house, found the servant well who had been sick. My study bible has a note on this section: "This centurion is an unusual Roman officer. He is attracted to the Jewish people and their religious tradition, and greatly commended by Jesus. The characteristics which he possesses are notable: (1) He has compassion for his servant (v. 2). (2) He is a man of humility (v. 3). He does not consider himself worthy to go to Christ (v. 7), so he asks that the elders go. He clearly does not consider himself worthy to have Christ enter his home (v. 6). (3) He has love for the Jewish people (v. 5). (4) He is considerate (v. 6). (5) He possesses great faith (vv. 7-9), more than Jesus has found thus far in His ministry." Capernaum, we know, was considered the center of Jesus' ministry, where we could say were His "headquarters." I think my study bible notes several important things here which we must consider. This powerful man loves his servant so that he takes time to find help for him. Not only is he humble, but shows good discernment and judgment in sending the elders to approach Jesus. To me, this is a sign that he is a good administrator in foreign territory, and understands how to approach the local people with respect and even love. Not only that, but the local elders also respect and revere the centurion, "for he loves our nation, and has built us a synagogue." In some sense, this centurion has acted as a "good shepherd" because "he has done great things for them." And the centurion's gift to us is even greater, because in the next section we are given to understand that he approaches Jesus with extraordinary humility ("I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof") and at the same time, he approaches Jesus as a man of authority - comparing Jesus to his own capacity and rank, and greater (because of his display of humility). So, we are given to understand a great gift in this picture of this centurion: a man of great power, a Roman who rules and enforces the Roman law of occupation, and yet beloved by the common people. Moreover, and perhaps even more importantly, this centurion understands quite deeply how he must approach Jesus. Jesus has just preached "Blessed are you poor" and "Woe to those who are full" but we are immediately given in Luke's Gospel a picture of an extraordinarily righteous man of power and wealth. I feel that we cannot underestimate the importance of this portrait of the centurion, because we are taught what it is to live a righteous life while in a position of great power and wealth. Jesus validates this when He says, "I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel!"

Now it happened, the day after, that He went into a city called Nain; and many of His disciples went with Him, and a large crowd. And when He came near the gate of the city, behold, a dead man was being carried out, the only son of his mother; and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the city was with her. When the Lord saw her, He had compassion on her and said to her, "Do not weep." Then He came and touched the open coffin, and those who carried him stood still. And He said, "Young man, I say to you, arise." So he who was dead sat up and began to speak. And He presented him to his mother. Then fear came upon all, and they glorified God, saying, "A great prophet has risen up among us"; and "God has visited His people." And this report about Him went throughout all Judea and all the surrounding region. A note reads: "This account is reported only by Luke, and shows Jesus' deep compassion toward the mourning widow of Nain who has lost her only son and provider. The raising of the son is performed by the Lord (v. 13) who has power over life and death. Jesus also raises Jairus's daughter (8:41-56) and Lazarus (John 11:1-44). But note: these were all acts of resuscitation, which is different from resurrection. They were brought back to life, but would eventually die again physically. Nevertheless their new life manifests Christ's divinity, and gives assurance of His Resurrection and ours, a transformation to glory."

Luke's Gospel gives us a tremendous picture of faith in both the stories in today's reading. There is the definition of a great and righteous ruler in this centurion. He is a symbol of Roman power, which was hated by so many in Judea and the surrounding areas as an oppressive, ungodly yoke and burden. And yet, he is revered in Capernaum because of his superb skills as a leader. He is humble, and he shares compassion with his servant, cares well and loves and nurtures spiritually the local people in their own tradition, and he shows firm faith, love and humility toward Jesus. He is a man of the truth, for whom discernment is a rule. And then we get the picture of the widow, the poorest of the poor, who depends upon her son. This story, found only in Luke, tells us of the great gift of life which Jesus can bestow, and which spreads his recognition as a prophet, and even, so to speak, "God among us." Jesus' ministry is a portrait of "high and low." There are no souls which He will not gather to Himself. There is no one who is exempt from this ministry and this faith. It is righteousness, humility and love that defines those who follow in this faith. Jesus' compassion is on those who mourn and weep, and for those who "are full" but show the same character of compassion. He remarks on their tremendous and extraordinary faith ("I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel!"). This is what we learn from Luke's Gospel, that Jesus is the Physician to the high and the low, to all people. We are radically united and equaled in this faith - and it is this, in some sense, that "makes His paths straight." There is a radically equalizing and evening up here, which we could say is preached metaphorically by John the Baptist in the lectionary's first reading in this Gospel. Immediately after the Sermon on the Plain, we are given vivid examples of the faith itself - compassion at work, the humility that opens the door. Jesus' ministry is for all of us, high and low, the powerful and the poor, the centurion and the widow -- and we all have ways in which we approach Him and ways in which we need Him. This ministry is for everyone; the Gospel teaches us all how to be his faithful. What does it say to you? How do you need to approach Him, wherever you are, whoever you are? How does He come to you?