Jesus of Nazareth healing a centurion’ slave without seeing him at the request of the Jewish elders and friends of the centurion, recorded in the gospel of Luke 7:1-10 is a parable which reveals about work-place relationships. The versions of this healing story appear in the gospels of Mathew 9 18-26 and Mark 5: 22-43 with some differences. A similar story of healing of a nobleman’s son is narrated in John 4:46-43.
Jesus often offered His gift of healing to those who were marginalised or socially disadvantaged. The two exceptions were healing the nobleman’s son as referred to earlier and Jairusu’s daughter, who was a synagogue official.
The healing event in this story concerned a ‘slave’ of a centurion. A centurion was a Roman army official who had hundred soldiers under him and held a position similar to a Sargent general. This healing event took place at Capernaum, after Jesus had returned following his visits and discourses. In this healing sotry, e come across:
A slave
The Centurion
Jewish Elders
Friends of the Centurion
Jesus of Nazareth
1.A Slave (v.2)
A slave according to the Jewish tradition was a living tool for labour, purchased and sold at discretion of the slave owner. Often a slave remained bonded to the owner till he was released. A labourer was eligible for his wages and had freedom of choice of type of work he did, as against a slave who was under obligation to remain subject to all the conditions the owner imposed. A slave’s predicament was unfortunate socially, economically and positionally.
However, this slave, who was was highly regarded by the Centurion either because of the merit of the slave or the goodness of the Centurion, probably because of both. It was exceptional for an owner to esteem a slave in the way that this Centurion did. He was concerned about the sickness of his slave, who was ‘about to die’(v2).
Another place in the Bible where a ‘small girl in captivity’ from a Jewish lineage, was valued for her thoughtfulness was at Naaman’s home (2 Kings 5:1-14). Naaman was a captain in the army of king Aram. Naaman suffered from Leprosy and this girl reported to Naaman’s wife, about a prophet in Samaria, who could heal her master of Leprosy, if only he could go there (V3). That is how Naaman set out to meet Elisha and returned healed after dipping himself in the river Jordan according to the instruction of the prophet.
I get a feeling from these two passages that there were high officials, who just did not have a utilitarian attitude towards their servants but regarded and valued them. Servants are brothers and sisters in the family of God.
Father Stan Swamy, a Jesuit Priest, 83 years old now, has been involved with the Adivasi communities for three decades now, for fighting against their forcible eviction from their tribal land. About 3000 Adivasis are lingering in different jails without trial for years now, in some northern states of India, against which Father Stan has been engaged in advocacy. In a video interview, he recently said, ‘The Adivasi people are my brothers and sisters’.
All those who work with us or for us or live among us are our brothers and sisters in the family of God. They are not servants, sub-ordinates, employees, or workers, but our brothers and sisters. When Jesuit Fathers work in institutions in any capacity, they are known to take a salary equivalent to the lowest paid person in that institution in order that they would feel all the challenges of living with limited means. That is one way they practice and advocate the social equity of distributive justice.
If only all of us can receive those with whom we live and work as our brothers and sisters!
2.The centurion
A Centurion according to the tradition at that time was a ‘Man among men’, who was known for his fidelity to Roman empire. He was valued for his valour, uprightness and just ways. This centurion had some distinctions, about which I shall refer to shortly. The Centurions referred to in the Acts of the Apostles too were men of stature and valour, who occupied significant positions.
Another Centurion of Caesaria of Italian Cohort, Cornelius, about whom we read in Acts, 10:1-8, was described as, ‘ A devout man, one who feared God with all his household and many alms to the Jewish people and prayed to god continually(v.2). It was he who was guided to send for Peter to come to minster to him, around the same time when Peter was having a vision of a sheet of living four footed animals being brought begore him for him to cut and eat. We have a reference to another Centurion (Acts 23;12-25), who picked up the news from Paul’s nephew of a plot of 40 Jews to ‘slay’ Paul, while he was to be taken to the Council for trial. It was the centurion who led Paul’s nephew to the commander, who in turn decided to move Paul to Caesarea. The responsibility of shifting Paul from the prison to Caesarea was given to two centurions (Acts 23:23). It was to a Centurion, Felix entrusted with orders ’for Paul to be kept in custody and yet have some freedom and not to prevent from any of his friends from ministering to him’(Acts 24:23). It was a Centurion, who helped Paul to jump overboard and swim when the shipwreck occurred (Acts 27:42-43), against the plan of the soldiers to kill all the prisoners, lest they swam and escaped. We have a commendable report about some centurions about their honesty, fairness, capability and upright and just ways.
The centurion in this healing story was similar in attitude and behaviour. Let me hight light five commendable features about him:
Generosity (v 3)
He was keen to help his slave, who was sick and about to die. A slave did not normally receive such attention or care normally. To think of the slave the way this centurion thought was an act of showing unmerited favour. I remember an instance in the Finance committee meeting of the Christian Medical College, Vellore, a few years back, when a retired Income tax commissioner, Mr George Cherian, a member of the committee, brought to the attention that there were some retired employees of CMC who were getting less than 3000 rupees as monthly pension. He persuaded the committee to consider giving at least 5000 rupees as pension to families who had no other income. All of us in the committee were persuaded to recommend that as a practice.
Our generosity ought to extent to the weakest among us, another attitude worthy of emulation in our work place.
Friendship without barriers (v.3)
The Centurion sent the Jewish elders first to entreat Jesus to come to his home to heal his servant. That was a diplomatic act of the Centurion at its best, by sending the Jewish elders as his emissaries to Jesus to invite Him to his home to heal the servant. The Romans are not religious and therefore do not have much in common with the Jews. The Jews did not have cordial relationships with the Romans, as it was the Romans who were ruling over them. It is evident from the willingness of the Jewish elders to meet Jesus that the Centurion kept good relationships with the Jews, in spite of the lack of cordiality between them.
In fact the Jewish elders were able to tell Jesus, that ‘He is worthy for you to grant this to him’ (v.4) It was this, Jesus spoke in the sermon on the Mount, ‘If you love those who love you, what reward do you have?. And if you greet brothers only what do you do more than others’ (Mat 5.46).
I remember of an incident that Dr Elsie Philip, a former chairperson of the Christian Medical Association of India personally narrated about two farmers who lived in near Plakkad. Joseph and Thomas were friends and practising Christians. They owned adjacent farmlands, which they cultivated and lived well. Jacob had a habit of extending his fence to Thomas’s property, which he continued doing in spite of disapproval from Thomas. Their relationships broke down. Jacob had a Stroke with paralysis of one side of his body and was no more able to cultivate his land. Thomas offered to do so and for years as Jacob was incapacitated. This generosity and kindness helped Jacob to be confessional and reach out to Thomas. They restored their relationship. It was Thomas who crossed the barriers, which made all the difference in their relationship.
The Centurion in this healing story was one such person who extended his friendship to the Jews in spite of the social barriers that existed. Another habit to pursue in our work places that differences of opinions or attitudes do not create barriers in building relationships!
Benevolent Centurion (v.5)
The Centurion built a synagogue for the Jews. It was an act of extreme kindness to build a synagogue for the Jews, when the Romans were not aligned with the Jewish faith in one God. But Centurion was willing to go beyond that inhibition to build a synagogue for a community. The normal human tendency is to stay in the comfort zone of one’s own allegiances, lest one became a target of suspicion and criticism.
The work-place that we belong to, ought to be more than just an assembly of like-minded people, but a place which develops into a place of belonging for all those who disagree, dissent, oppose or criticise. The attitude of the Centurion to be benevolent towards those who differed with him on matters of faith made him a friend of the Jewish elders.
I remember being with Professor Malathi Jadahv on a Paediatrics ward rounds, while working at the Christian Medical College Hospital Vellore on a Monday morning in 1981. Around 9 am we had just started the ward rounds. The residents looked less prepared for the rounds as they did not know enough of the latest about the children. Dr Malathi stopped the rounds and invited all of us to the teaching room and made us seated. She turned to the residents and asked why they were not current with information about children. That was when they mentioned about a busy weekend with several sick children in the ward, all of whom needed attention and emergency procedures. She enquired if they had their breakfast. None of the four did not have breakfast. Dr Malathi ordered breakfast for them and asked them to take a break till 3pm in the afternoon. Dr Malathi and I along with two interns continued the rounds. The residents returned in the afternoon with a ‘thank you’ note and a cake for Dr Malathi. Every act of kindness usually promotes goodness in return. Doing good to others in our work-places, is a habit all of us can cultivate.
Humility (v.6)
The friends of the Centurion when they came to speak to Jesus, repeated the words of Centurion, ‘Lord, do not trouble yourself further, for I am not worthy for you to come under my roof’(v6). His position as a Centurion did not give an exalted view of himself. Although the Jewish elders earlier introduced the centurion to Jesus, as one ‘worthy for you to grant this to him’ (v.4), the friends of Centurion clarified to Jesus the way the Centurion felt about himself. The centurion was not carried away by his position or the projection the Jewish elders made about him to Jesus. It revealed how the centurion viewed himself, in spite of his position and
And social status. He thought of himself soberly and ordinarily, not in an exalted way. Another good practice in work-place! It is this habit of staying humble, which would make our colleagues to feel comfortable about with those who hold leadership roles.
Faith in Jesus (v.7)
The message that the Centurion’s friends carried to Jesus was, ‘I did not even consider myself worthy to come to you, but just say a word, and my servant will be healed’. The Roman official, having heard about Jesus came to believe in Jesus and His power to heal. A good example of a person from another faith or no faith background can come to trust in Jesus without going through all the traditions or rituals associated with following Jesus.
The Centurion happened to be a silent believer and follower of Jesus, which is what we find even today among many people. There are many thousands who listen to the gospel messages in the radio and television programmes and at least some carry the message of Jesus in their hearts and seek to live godly lives. The denominational Christian traditions in our Churches sometimes can be an offence to those who want to transcend the rituals and live by the teachings of Jesus. Faith in Jesus is not synonym with Church membership; instead what affirms faith in Jesus is life of integrity lived because of personal allegiance to Jesus of Nazareth and a pilgrim journey of faith in Him.
3 Jewish elders (v.2)
The Jewish elders who went to meet Jesus, ‘earnestly entreated’ Jesus (v.4) that the Centurion was worthy of receiving a favour of Jesus going to his home to heal his servant. I like the way the Jewish elders pleaded with Jesus on behalf of the centurion. It was because of their attachment and appreciation for the centurion.
Our workplaces are places where we come across people who are wounded, grieved, distressed, and broken because of financial stress or family discord. This calls for us to take notice of others in a thoughtful manner rather than in judgemental way when they fail to come to our expectations or fall short of work output expected of them.
I remember an instance when I felt a trap to my impulsive behaviour while talking to the secretary in the office, ‘You came to work late again’! Instantly her face was down cast and eyes full. It was then I came to my senses and made her seated and enquired about her circumstances at home. Listening to all the difficulties she had to cope with during the weekend, I realized that she still came to work out of her consideration to help in the out-patient service to run smoothly. She was more than generous, whereas, I was rude with my remark.
We can convert our workplace to be a welcoming and comfortable place, if we can carry an attitude of concession and tolerance of the special circumstances of others. That is what the Jewish elders did to the Centurion.
4.Friends (v.6)
Jesus was on His way to the Centurion’s home. It was then the friends of the Centurion arrived, requesting Jesus to ‘say word’ to heal the servant of Centurion. They carried the message that the Centurion did not feel worthy of Jesus coming to his home. I feel moved by the interest of the friends of Centurion to plead with Jesus for the sake of the servant of the centurion. The friends became the champions of the need of the Centurion.
Our workplaces can become such sancturies of mindfulness for others! How much we know others and their needs while we work with them! Dr Samuel Oommen and Dr Beena Koshy are my former colleagues in the Developmental Paediatrics Unit at the Christian Medical College, Vellore. An opportunity arose for Beena and her husband Regi to go the United Kingdom for study leave, which meant that Samuel would be the lone consultant in the department to oversee the clinical work while he was in the last stage of his PhD research. I remember a conversation with Samuel when he encouraged Beena to proceed for her study leave. Samuel said, ‘I ought to free Beena for her study leave, although it would be difficult to manage. It is an opportunity that I have encouraged her to take up’. This interest to promote the opportunity of a colleague for further training, even when there would be several constraints at work, occurred to me as true generosity towards others at workplace. It is this spirit which build genuine friendships at workplaces.
5 Jesus of Nazareth (V6-9)
Jesus had set out to go to the home of the Centurion (6) and while on His way, the Centurion’s friends arrived saying, ‘only say a word’, as the Centurion did not feel worthy of a visit form Jesus. They quoted the Centurion to Jesus, ‘ For I too am a man under authority with soldiers under me and I say to this one, go; he goes and to another come, and he comes and to my slave, do this and he does it’.(v.8). With these words, the Centurion affirmed his faith in Jesus being able to heal his servant by pronouncing healing, without having to his home. Jesus ‘marvelled at his faith’ and commented that,’I say to you, not even in Israel I found such a great faith’(v.9).
What was special about the faith of Centurion! The Centurion was making a public declaration that Jesus had authority to proclaim healing by his word and that would certainly come to pass. And that was what happened, when ‘those who have been sent returned to the home’ found the servant in good health (v.10).
The psalmist in Psalm 37:3-5 reminds us: ‘Trust in the Lord and do good; Dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness. Delight yourself in the Lord; And He will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your ways to the Lord; Trust also in Him and He will do it’. It was this the Centurion practised to which Jesus responded to by healing the servant of the Centurion. Jesus honoured the trust expressed by the Jewish elders, Friends of the Centurion and Centurion himself. Jesus is a friend and provider of those who put their trust in Him.
Late Rev. A.C.Oommen once said, referring to this healing story said, that healing is facilitated by corporate faith. In this story, the centurion, Jewish elders, friends of the Centurion and Jesus of Nazareth participated to experience healing of the servant. According to him, healing becomes a reality when ‘God is at work while we are at work in faith’! This healing story demonstrated this reality.
Let me conclude by referring to the messages we can carry about workplace relationships from this healing story:
Our colleagues at workplace are our brothers and sisters. We are expected to be generous towards those who work with us and for us. Build friendships without barriers, even among our opponents. Live benevolently thinking of others and their needs at workplace. Live in humility with a true estimate of ourselves. Find friends who can be part of our lives for us to grow in our faith journey. Jesus would bring healing to our midst as we trust Him and collaborate to take care of the needs of others in our midst.
The Jewish elders and Friends of the Centurion were in the interphase between the Centurion and Jesus, which brought healing to the servant of the Centurion. The four men in the story of healing of the paralysed man (Mark 2: 1-13) was in the interphase between the paralysed man and Jesus. The health care professionals are in the interphase between those who come to us with health needs and Jesus of Nazareth. Ours is a mission of upbuilding people in faith in God, while we live mindfully of the unspoken needs of those who visit us in our hospitals.
I recall what late Dr Sheela Gupta did for almost four decades at Pandita Ramabai Mukti Mission at Kedgaon, Pune. Having finished her training to be an Obstetrician at CMC, Vellore, she decided to spend her lifetime of service with women from broken homes, abandoned women, young girls living without parents, etc and accompany them to feel healed of their traumatic experiences and to equip them to be self-employed. Her special interest was to prepare them to get married whenever possible. While talking about her mission, she told me once that, ‘It is in the ambience of a loving and affirming atmosphere, women growth. can experience inner healing and physical wellness to move on in their life. Out of their brokenness can come a new life, when they experience the love of God and the care others around them’. Dr Sheela turned her workplace into a transforming experience for women, who were looking for pastoral care for their personal healing and wellness.
The story of the Centurion turning to Jesus to heal his servant is story that tells a lot about workplace relationships. Let me end by quoting form a hymn by Fred Kaan:
‘Help us to accept each other
As Christ accepted us
Teach us, as sister and brother
Each person to embrace
Be present, Lord among us
And bring us to believe
We are ourselves, accepted
And meant to love and live.
Teach us, O Lord, our lessons
As in our daily life
We struggle to be human
And search for hope and faith
Teach us to care for people
For all, not just for some,
To love them as we find them
Or as they become
Let your acceptance change us
So that we may be moved
In living situations
To do the truth in love
To practice your acceptance
Until we know by heart
The Table of forgiveness
And laughter’s healing art’
M.C.Mathew ( text, all pictures except flower from the website-acknowledged gratefully)
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