by Rev. Herbert Nichols

From today through Wednesday of next week the lectionary features a semi-continuous series of readings from the prophet Isaiah. They are in sequence, but not back to back. Significant episodes are missing here but heard at other times of the year.

Unlike Ordinary time, the gospels are not consecutive but are chosen to complement the themes of the Old Testament prophets. In today’s pericopes, Isaiah speaks of beating "swords into plowshares and spears into pruning hooks." What a vision!

Human beings of all times have yearned for peace. Isaiah prophesied that peace would come from Israel provided the people learned to walk in the light of the Lord. Israel failed to understand that this prophecy would be fulfilled in Christ, but has the Church failed to understand and to bring the healing and light of Christ to the world?

In the gospel Jesus sees the nations gathered in faith and feasting on "healing". That healing power was at work even when Jesus was not physically present to the centurion’s servant. In fact the only time that Jesus healing power was not at work was in Nazareth, where their lack of faith so distressed him, he was unable to work anything but a few minor miracles.

This encounter with the centurion should be a milestone for us in our own life journey. There are occasions when we are challenged as the centurion was to go home and believe that our prayer is already answered. Whether that healing is for a loved one or for ourselves. Do not we not pray the words of the centurion in every Mass: "Lord I am not worthy, but only say the word and I shall be healed." If taken seriously these are words of trust that ignite a light in the dark times of our lives.

If we are ever to succeed in beating our swords into plowshares, we must with God’s grace beat down and transform our feelings of hatred and contempt into love and concern. If we are ever to turn spears into pruning hooks we must turn our own self seeking into service and generosity; and that doesn’t mean tossing a few coins into the Salvation Army Santa’s bucket.