“Nowhere in Israel have I found faith like this.” This is perhaps the greatest compliment that one can receive from the Lord. But it was not given to a Jew. Instead, it was given to a pagan, and Roman centurion at that. This squares with Jesus’ teaching that favours people on the margins– anyone who is unable to follow the Mosaic law to the letter, women, children and traditional social pariahs, including pagans.

The centurion understood that Jesus was not only a man of authority but Authority personified. Despite not being a Jew, he saw in Jesus a power inherently higher than himself or any earthly and divine authority. An authority so powerful that physical touch was not needed to heal his ailing servant.

His humility is the other praiseworthy attribute that deserves mention for, despite being a man who commanded a hundred soldiers, he had no scruples to beg Jesus for this favour. Each time we respond at Mass, “Lord, I am not worthy that You should come under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed,” let us be reminded that it’s a call to humility and to genuine faith in Jesus.