Reflection from Rev Paul Smith Reflection for September15 2025 Luke 7:1-10Jesus went to Capernaum. A Roman Officer there had a servant who was very dear to him. The man was sick and about to die. When the officer heard about Jesus, he sent some Jewish Elders to ask him to come and heal his servant. They came to him and begged him earnestly: “This man really deserves your help. He loves our people and he himself built a synagogue for us.”So Jesus went with them. He was not far from the house when the officer sent friends to tell him, “Sir, don’t trouble yourself. I do not deserve to have you come into my house, neither do I consider myself worthy to come to you in person. Just give the order, and my servant will get well. I, too, am a man placed under superior officers and I have soldiers under me. I order this one: “Go!” and he goes, I order that one, “Come!” and he comes, and I order my slave, “Do this!” and he does it.”Jesus was surprised when he heard this, he turned round and said to the crowd following him, “I tell you, I’ve never found faith like this, not even in Israel!”From the Good News Bible published by the Bible Societies and HarperCollins Publishers, © American Bible Society 1994, used with permission.Only say the word.We live in an age of words and we are particularly fortunate to be English speakers, as our language is lingua franca for much of the world.Words….all the time even in this reflection! Pause. And think about the words all around you! Even at this minute. Where do the words in your day-to-life come from? If we live with others, maybe from them. But not always, of course. Even when we live on our own, words are everywhere, all around us. Count up the different ways we encounter words. Nowadays, from books, reading our smartphone. What would church be without words? Think about those who can’t read, see or understand words. What would church be without words? (Better, you might think!) Think about these who can’t read, see or understand words.In this Gospel passage, Jesus says, “I’ll come, of course”. But the centurion says, “Stop! Just say the word!” Luke doesn’t say what word Jesus said, but Matthew does.Jesus says The Word, and the servant is healed.To believe and trust Jesus, The Word, it will help to stop and just let go, as the centurion did, and not get in the way of Jesus’ activity. After all, perhaps our words and our activity could get in the way.In my old age I am beginning to understand that for much of my life I have just been in the way of God’s purposes through my very busyness, or else, perhaps, never getting around to the things that really mattered. Maybe the answer to procrastination is more active trust in the reality of the Holy Spirit with us. A PrayerLord God, in your mercy, you do not look at what I am now, nor on what I have been, but on what I desire to be.The Cloud of Unknowing (14th Century) Common Worship: Collects and Post Communions, material from which is included here, is copyright © The Archbishops' Council 2000
