“Impossibilities”

By Rev. Michael Stonhouse

Meditation – Tuesday, October 8, 2024

Luke 7: 1-17 (Forward, p. 71) CEV p. 1065

I am sure that I have read the story of Jesus healing the centurion’s servant thousands of times but have never seen it in this light. Think of it this way. Think of the centurion as being an agent, a tool, of an oppressive occupying army. With the current situation in Palestine, you can see it in either way, with the Israel Defence Forces being the oppressor, or with Hamas being the oppressor.

So, imagine the regional commander of the particular occupying force being friendly with the locals from the ‘other side’ and actually enlisting their help in the serious illness of one of his servants. And, not only that, imagine him imploring the help of a noted religious authority, a leader, from that other community and expressing his belief, his trust, in that other community’s god. Impossible, you say, it would never happen.

And yet it did happen here, here in the ministry of Jesus. And what is more, according to Jesus the faith and absolute trust evidenced by this centurion was far beyond anything that Jesus had seen in His own fellow Jews! Wow. And that from a class of people that were normally disdainful of the Jewish religion, usually choosing instead to see the Jews as a backward and superstitious race of know-nothings. Wow. The example of the Roman centurion underlines the truth that faith, and harmony and good ill, are possible anywhere, even where it seems impossible. Halleluiah.

And likewise, the raising to life again of the widow’s son in Nain illustrates that God is the God of the impossible. No one would have ever believed that this could take place, and yet it did. And so, God can work in our lives, and in our world, even when it seems unlikely, or impossible. Thanks be to God.

Forward notes: “And [Jesus] said, ‘Young man, I say to you, rise!’” (verse 14b)

“’Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.’ How many of you were taught that growing up? For me, it’s one of the biggest lies from my childhood. I may have forgotten the physical cuts, bruises, and scars I received growing up, but the words still linger decades after childhood.

“Words have far more power than we give them credit. Words have the power to give life. Words have the power to ruin lives as well. Twice in this chapter, Jesus uses words to heal.

“In the beginning, God spoke the universe into existence. Words have power.

“And as Uncle Ben of Spider-Man fame said, ‘With great power comes great responsibility.’ We should all be aware of the power of our words.”

Moving Forward: “Who will you offer words of life and encouragement to today?”