4th Sunday After Pentecost

(Matthew 8:5-13)

Today’s Gospel reading tells us of the centurion who beseeched the Lord to heal his paralyzed servant. The centurion, though he was a Roman soldier, had heard of the miracles and teachings of Christ and recognized His goodness, His authority, and His power to heal.

Though he was in charge of many men, the centurion was concerned for the illness of his servant who was paralyzed. This concern for what might be called the least among his charges demonstrates the disposition of heart of this good man. He does not approach our Lord to seek anything for himself, he is entirely focused on interceding for the servant whom he loved and for whom he had such concern.

Indeed, such was his faith that he would not trouble the Lord to come to his servant but recognizing his unworthiness to have Christ come to his home, he boldly states: ‘Only speak a word and my servant will be healed.’ Our Lord is astonished by the trust and faith of this man and declares: ‘I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel… Go your way; and as you have believed so let it be done for you.’ And his servant was healed that same hour.

The centurion bore the burden of his servant who was ill… bringing this burden before the Lord and trusting with faith that our Lord would show mercy. This generous spirit of concern and the zeal demonstrated in interceding for another is something we all as Christians should admire and emulate… for it is a foundational aspect of our Christian life. It is ‘love for God and for our neighbor’ in action.

Yesterday we celebrated and gave thanks to God for the life of St John, the wonderworker of Shanghai and San Francisco. St John was a man who exemplified this ‘love for God and neighbor in action’. His entire life was given over to prayer and extraordinary sacrifices and concern for the good of others.

I expect many of you may be familiar with the stories of his bold intercessions for people while he was in China. He was known to wander the dangerous streets at night, searching out and rescuing abandoned children – bringing them to the safe harbor of the orphanage which he started. Caring for these children was not easy – there was little money, food was often scarce, and the logistics and organization required to see to the needs of these children were daunting. Yet love propelled him to take this on and to trust in God that all would work out. Many of us have had the privilege of knowing some of these orphans whom St John cared for and for whom he assured safe passage from China to the Philippines and then to San Francisco. Their memories of and their gratitude to St John are very dear.

St John and his flock lived through incredibly difficult circumstances – being exiled from their native land of Russia; trying to establish a life in China, only to once again have to flee from God-hating authorities; finding some refuge amid tents in the Philippines where St John’s powerful intercessions prevented hurricanes from harming them while they were there; to his patient and bold persistence in Washington D.C., advocating for his flock to be allowed into this country.

St John was an unlikely hero… short of stature, bearing a speech impediment, not conforming to how the world thinks one should present oneself. Nevertheless, he tirelessly extended himself for the love of God and his neighbors.

The accounts of St John’s intercessions are numerous and fill one with awe and admiration. Yet, one of the stories from his life that I find most moving involves a glimpse into his private life and into the weight which he bore in his love for others.

This story came from a parishioner of his while he was bishop in France. It was late and there was no one in church. This woman entered the church while it was empty so she could do some cleaning. However, moments after having quietly entered the church she heard some small noise coming from the altar area. She listened and approached the altar doors to see if she could find out what it was. As she approached, she was able to hear that someone was weeping. She opened one of the side doors to the altar to take a peek and there she saw the barefeet of the bishop, who was prostrated upon the floor, pouring out his sorrows and burdens before God. She was shocked and felt that she had stumbled upon something utterly private and intimate, which she should not disturb – so she slowly and quietly backed away and left the church.

What a precious glimpse into the life of a man who bore a compassionate and loving heart.  We rightly marvel at what seem to be the super-human achievements of St John, but what this touching scene shows us is the exhaustion and the brokenheartedness of the very real humanity of St John. Christ has told us that it is in our weakness that we are made strong. We do not have to have any great skills or talents in order to be of service to God and others. What it takes is a loving heart and a willing spirit of self-sacrifice.

Christ admonished us to love one another. The holy Apostle and Evangelist John tells us that if we say we love God and yet we hate out brother, we are liars. He writes: ‘By this we know love, because Christ laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him? My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.’ And later the Apostle John writes: ‘Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.’

This is the disposition of heart that understands the connection we all have to one another and, borne through love for one’s fellow man, bears the burdens of others… and in doing so, thus fulfills the law of Christ.

May we take as our examples both the centurion from today’s Gospel and our holy father and wonderworker, St John. They were motivated by their love for others to stand boldly before Christ – knowing their own insufficiency and asking for and trusting in His mercy and grace to help those whom they loved. In always looking to the Lord, they accomplished great things. May we have the humility and the hope to be intercessors for one another as well.