Today Jesus is amazed. He is surprised that the man who comes before him - a foreigner and member of the occupying army- believes that Jesus has power to save his servant. The centurion has compassion for his servant and Jesus has compassion for the centurion. Yet beyond the titles and roles, this person is simply a human being with great faith.

How does my faith compare to the centurion's faith? This is not an easy question to consider. Like the local people of the time, we may be unsettled by such a comparison. Yet, perhaps such uneasiness can also encourage us.

What is it that I most deeply desire in life? Is it perseverance, wisdom, courage, healing, or some other grace? We are invited to believe that Christ will have compassion on us. Today is an invitation to simply and boldly ask for what we most deeply desire and to have faith that Christ will lovingly answer this prayer in some way.

'Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof; but only speak the word, and my servant will be healed.' Two thousand years later we still echo similar words at each Mass. They remind us to ask for what we desire most and to have faith in Christ who has given himself fully for us.