"Maghambal Ka Lang, Kag Magaayo Ang Akon Suluguon"

Ebanghelyo subong nga Adlaw (Lucas 7:1-10)

Pagkatapos panudlo ni Jesus sa mga tawo, nagkadto siya sa Capernaum.

May kapitan didto sang mga soldado nga Romanhon nga may ulipon nga nagamasakit kag daw mapatay na. Palangga gid niya ang iya ulipon.

Gani pagkabati sang kapitan parte kay Jesus, ginsugo niya ang pila ka manugdumala sang mga Judio sa pagpangabay kay Jesus nga magkadto didto sa iya balay kag ayuhon ang iya ulipon.

Pag-abot nila kay Jesus nagpakitluoy gid sila sa iya. Nagsiling sila, "Kon mahimo buligi ang kapitan, kay maayo gid siya nga tawo.

Palangga niya kita nga mga Judio kag nagpatindog pa gani siya sang simbahan para sa aton."

Gani nag-upod si Jesus sa ila. Sang malapit na sila sa balay sang kapitan, ginsugo sang kapitan ang pila ka amigo niya agod sugataon si Jesus kag silingon, "Ginoo, indi na pagpabudlayi ang imo kaugalingon. Indi ako takos nga magpasulod sa imo sa akon balay.

Amo gani nga indi ako ang nagkadto sa imo kay indi ako takos nga magpalapit sa imo. Maghambal ka lang kag magaayo ang akon suluguon.

Nahibaluan ko ini tungod kay ako sa idalom man sang mga opisyal, kag may mga soldado man sa idalom ko. Gani kon magmando ako sa isa, 'lakat,' nagalakat siya, kag kon magmando ako sa isa, 'kadto diri,' nagakadto siya. Kag kon ano ang akon ginasugo sa akon ulipon, ginahimo niya."

Pagkabati sadto ni Jesus natingala gid siya. Nag-atubang siya sa mga tawo nga nagaupod sa iya kag nagsiling, "Wala pa gid ako nakakita sang tawo sa Israel nga may pagtuo nga pareho sini."

Ang mga ginpadala sang kapitan nagbalik sa iya balay kag pag-abot nila, nakita nila nga maayo na ang ulipon.

***

Meditation: 

Do you seek God with confidence and pray with expectant faith? A Roman official boldly sought Jesus with a daring request. What made him confident that Jesus would receive his request and act favorably towards him? Like a true soldier, he knew the power of command. And he saw in Jesus both the power and the mercy of God to heal and restore life. In the Roman world the position of centurion was very important. He was an officer in charge of a hundred soldiers. In a certain sense, he was the backbone of the Roman army, the cement which held the army together. Polybius, an ancient write, describes what a centurion should be: "They must not be so much venturesome seekers after danger as men who can command, steady in action, and reliable; they ought not to be over-anxious to rush into the fight, but when hard pressed, they must be ready to hold their ground, and die at their posts."

The centurion who approached Jesus was not only courageous, but faith-filled as well. He risked the ridicule of his Roman companions by seeking help from a Jewish preacher from Galilee, as well as mockery from the Jews who despised Roman occupation of their land. Nonetheless, this centurion approached Jesus with confidence and humility. Augustine notes that the centurion regarded himself as unworthy to receive the Lord into his house: "Humility was the door through which the Lord entered to take full possession of one whom he already possessed." The centurion was an extraordinary man because he loved his slave. In the Roman world slaves were treated like animals rather than people. The centurion was also an extraordinary man of faith. He believed that Jesus had the power to heal his beloved slave. Jesus commends him for his faith and immediately grants him his request. Are you willing to suffer ridicule in the practice of your faith? And when you need help, do you approach the Lord Jesus with expectant faith?

"Heavenly Father, you sent us your Son Jesus Christ that we might be freed from the tyranny of sin and death. Increase my faith in the power of your saving word and give me freedom to love and serve others with generosity and mercy as you have loved me."