St. Cornelius, Pope  & martyr 

St. Cyprian, bishop & martyr 

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊

 1 Timothy 2: 1-8

First of all I urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions and thanks-giving be made for everyone,

for rulers of states and all in authority, that we may enjoy a quiet and peaceful life in godliness and respect.  This is good and pleases God.  For he wants all to be saved and come to the knowledge of truth.  As there is one God, there is one mediator between God and humankind, Christ Jesus, himself human, who gave his life for the redemption of all.

This is the testimony, given in its proper time,  and of this, God has made me apostle and herald. I am not lying, I am telling the truth: He made me teacher of the nations regarding faith and truth.  I want the men in every place to lift pure hands in prayer to heaven without anger and dissension.

 

 ＊＊＊＊ Gospel ＊＊＊＊

Luke 7: 1-10

When Jesus had finished teaching in this way to the people, he went to Capernaum.

A Roman military officer lived there, whose servant was very sick and near to death, a man very dear to him.  So when he heard about Jesus, he sent some elders of the Jews to persuade him to come and save his servant’s life.  The elders came to Jesus and begged him earnestly, saying,  “He deserves this of you, for he loves our people and even built a synagogue for us.”

Jesus went with them. He was not far from the house when the Roman officer sent friends to give this message, “Sir, do not trouble yourself for I am not worthy to welcome you under my roof.  You see I didn’t approach you myself. Just give the order and my servant will be healed.  For I myself, a junior officer, give orders to my soldiers and I say to this one: ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to the other: ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant: ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”    

 On hearing these words, Jesus was filled with admiration. He turned and said to the people with him, “I say to you, not even in Israel have I found such great faith.”  The people sent by the captain went back to his house; there they found that the servant was well.

 

Reflection gospel：

“I FOUND SUCH GREAT FAITH.”

The visit of Saint Pope John PaulⅡin the Philippines in 1995 culminated in the celebration of the Eucharist at Luneta Grand Stand in Manila. Until now I could not forget when my fellow seminarians and I went by bus to attend the mass. On the bus, I was seated beside a man who will also take part in the mass. Talking to him, he narrated how his father, who was suffering from a heart condition, got better. Using his own words, he said: “He got healed.”And he attributed the healing to the visit of the good pope. I am now inclined to think that this is one of the incidents unknown to the Church, unknown to Rome, regarding Saint John PaulⅡ.

There are two important elements that are at work deep inside the Roman officer, namely: love and faith. Our love for others leads us to approach God in faith, asking him to bestow his mercy upon a beloved. And our faith, which recognizes the power of God and sees God as the only hope, as all, as everything, gives us the confidence to approach him. Faith gives us access to the power of God and allows, in turn, God’s love to work powerfully in our lives and the lives of those we love.