II. Christ's charity and goodness induced Him to say immediately, "I will come and heal. him." (Matt. viii. 7.) He offered more than the centurion asked; to wit, to come in person; whilst the centurion only wished to hear a word from Him, which would operate, he believed, an effectual cure. " Let mankind be ashamed of their backwardness," writes St. Augustine, " for God is more ready to give than we to receive." On another occasion, Christ was requested to cure the son of a ruler, but refused to visit him in person, whilst on this occasion, without being requested, He offers His personal service to a servant. " To destroy our pride, He does this," as St. Gregory remarks, " because we do not so much consider the nature of men" (which is the same in all), " as their honors or riches."
III. The centurion hearing that Christ intended to come Himself, sent a person to meet Him, and to say to Him, " Lord, trouble not Thyself, for I am not worthy Thou shouldst enter under my roof; wherefore, neither did I think myself worthy to come to Thee; but say the word, and my servant shall be healed." (Luke vii. 6.) Ponder the great humility of this man, and learn that men may be humble in any situation of life. He deemed himself unworthy to receive Christ under his roof, but he had already received Him in his heart. Do not fail to imitate him.
THURSDAY.
Christ Cures the Centurion's Servant.— II.
I. Consider the centurion's description of himself; "I also am a man, subject to authority, having under me
