M atthew 8:5-17  As he entered Caper'naum, a centurion came forward to him, beseeching him (6) and saying, "Lord, my servant is lying paralyzed at home, in terrible distress."  (7) And he said to him, "I will come and heal him." (8) But the centurion answered him, "Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof; but only say the word, and my servant will be healed.  (9) For I am a man under authority, with soldiers under me; and I say to one, `Go,' and he goes, and to another, `Come,' and he comes, and to my  slave, `Do this,' and he does it."  (10) When Jesus heard him, he marveled, and said to those who followed him, "Truly, I say to you, not even in Israel have I found such faith.  (11) I tell you, many will come from east and west and sit at table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven, (12) while the sons of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness; there men will weep and gnash their teeth." (13) And to the centurion Jesus said, "Go; be it done for you as you have believed." And the servant was healed at that very moment. (14) And when Jesus entered Peter's house, he saw his mother-in-law lying sick with a fever; (15) he touched her hand, and the fever left her, and she rose and served him. (16) That evening they brought to him many who were possessed with demons; and he cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were sick.  (17) This was to fulfil what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah, "He took our infirmities and bore our diseases."

* Meditation by Pat Borchers

In both readings today we see dramatic miracles performed through the intercession of holy human beings..  In the case of Abraham and Sarah it is their fertility well past the time where that appeared biologically possible.  Interestingly, however, in this reading from Genesis the three holy men are not named, and it is difficult to discern exactly when they are speaking and the Lord is speaking.  Note, for instance, that it is one of the men who makes the prophecy that Sarah will have a son within a year but when she scoffs at the notion, it is then the Lord who speaks directly to Abraham.  But, in any event, we clearly see human beings interceding as agents of God.

The relationship between God and human beings is actually quite a bit clearer in the second reading where Jesus - who was both fully human and divine - is the chief actor.  But note here too that Jesus uses a faith filled human, the centurion, as his agent to cure the servant.

Sometimes in Mass, I have to admit, I can let my mind wander during readings like this.  I think to myself:  "Yeah, yeah, another miracle story.  I've got the picture."  But in doing that I cheat myself and I cheat God.  These stories are not just quaint relics of a bygone age where people were superstitious.  We all have the power to intercede on behalf of God for other human beings in ways that we sometimes don't even understand.  I can think of many instances in which reading one of the reflections by other authors on this site has helped me turn a little corner out of the darkness and into the light.  Sometimes a tender and unexpected hug from my wife or one of my children has helped me let my material cares slip by and concentrate on what's really important.

Viewed through the distorting glasses of modernity, we don't call these things miracles anymore, but we should.  Because they are.  They are proof that God loves us and that we can be God's agents each and every day.

Supplemental Reading

Being a Person Under Authority

. . . I tell you the truth, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith. ~ Matthew 8:10