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Intimate Jesus
Monday, December 1, 2014
First Week of Advent
Matthew 8:5-11
The centurion’s servant was very sick and Jesus said, “I will come and heal him.” But the centurion stopped Jesus and said to him, “Lord! I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof. Just say the word, and my servant will be healed.” Jesus was amazed at his faith and said, “Let it be done for you.”
Jesus is happy to spend time with a man who is not of his faith, not of his country. He’ll go with him to his home, go out of his way, change his plans. Doing this hurts his reputation among the Jewish leaders. Doing this surprises his disciples. None of this bothers Jesus at all.
But it bothers the centurion. He knows how busy Jesus is, how important he is to many others along the way, how unimportant he himself is in the grand scheme of things. And he believes in the power of God.
“Just say the word, Jesus.” Call down God’s power on my servant, and he’ll be healed. God is in charge, I’m not. God is alive, and magic is afoot. The centurion knows. And Jesus is touched and amazed.
Faith grounds itself in hope, not hopes.  I don’t expect anything; I am just in the business of looking into God’s eyes (as best I can), and watching him look back at me.
About prayer, Mother Teresa said, “I don’t talk, I simply listen.”
“What is it that God says to you when you pray,” she was asked.
“He also doesn’t talk. He also simply listens.”
Father, when I gaze into your eyes, and feel your hand on my head, I grow quiet and there is peace everywhere. Hope everywhere. And I know your healing is all around me.
http://www.christiancounselingservice.com/archived_devotions.php?article_id=1296
