Faith. I think we test our faith everyday. We find it hard to have the faith of the centurion in today’s gospel, whose faith is so strong that he is willing to turn everything over to God. The words echo the words we say at every Mass: “Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul will be healed.” 

At that moment, we ask God to accept us as we are and we know that he will, that he loves us as we muddle through life, as we make mistakes. I marvel at the faith of the centurion and those early, early Christians to believe so strongly, to have such unwavering faith in this son of a carpenter. We should be like the centurion, willing to turn everything over to God. That trust, that leap can be hard. We don’t like to give up our illusion of control. We sometimes would like our faith with a side of exceptions. We stand at the precipice and hesitate to take the leap of faith, our own fears holding us back.  

I think faith is a muscle, one that grows stronger as we exercise and stretch it. Making that leap of turning everything over to God everyday is one way to stretch and develop our faith. I am reminded of one of the prayers of St. Ignatius, the Suscipe or Take, Lord, Receive.
There is no better model.

Take, Lord, and receive all my liberty,
my memory, my understanding,
and my entire will,
All I have and call my own.

You have given all to me.
To you, Lord, I return it.

Everything is yours; do with it what you will.
Give me only your love and your grace,
that is enough for me.

* This reflection from the archives was written for these readings in 2012.