Homily for the Memorial of Saints Cornelius, Pope, and Cyprian, Bishop, Martyrs

The words of the Roman Centurion, "I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof... but say the word and let my servant be healed," are adapted for the Mass as we prepare to receive Holy Communion. The Centurion, in his humility, respected the local customs and did not want to ask Jesus to violate the Jewish Law by entering the house of a pagan. His profound trust in the life-giving power of Jesus’ word was a testament to his remarkable faith, a faith that Jesus declared greater than any he had found in Israel.

If a person, such as a pagan soldier in an occupying army, can show such faith in Jesus, it is a source of inspiration and hope. His story is a powerful reminder that faith can be found in the most unlikely of people and at the most unexpected of times. Let us not hastily assume that anyone ceased to believe in the mercy of God. We cannot predict who is a person of faith and who is not.

Let us pray that such faith will continue to be discovered in the most surprising of places, inspiring us with faith found where we never knew it existed.