Know the power of the presence of Christ

Father Perry D. Leiker, pastor.

By Father Perry D. Leiker, pastor

A reflection on the daily readings, for Monday of the First Week of Advent, by Father Perry.

“On that day” (or “in” that day … ) is a phrase mentioned about 70 times in the prophetic literature of the Bible.

That would make it a pretty common occurrence that focused or localized occurrences were to come — prophetic predictions if you will.

The specificity and the descriptions must have thrown many a person into concern, if not fear, and were meant to move people into action, especially into repentance, change of heart, renewal of lives, and rededication to the Lord.

Sometimes it worked; sometimes it didn’t.

Listening to the prophet was to pay attention to what was coming and to bring about a lively and faith-filled response to God.

+ Jesus had the same effect on many.

Today, a centurion, working for the Romans, had heard of Jesus, or maybe even personally had heard Jesus speak.

In any case, he believed that Jesus was a man of power and authority — spiritually.

Desperate to have his paralyzed and suffering servant cured, he approached Jesus with a request.

Actually, he never even got the request out of his mouth; he simply presented the painful reality to Jesus.

Jesus quickly and simply responded: “I will come and cure him.”

But it was then that the beautiful and spark-of-a-moment that connected Jesus and the centurion took place.

The centurion noted that both he and Jesus were men of authority; their words, each of them, had power and could command others.

The centurion noted his own unworthiness for a man of such authority and power to even enter under his roof (the famous words which precede our approaching the minister for the reception of the Eucharist at communion time in the Mass).

And Jesus was amazed.

Advent is our approaching Jesus the Christ at Christmas, at the end of time, and most of all right now in the present moment (and hopefully that occurs many times a day, and every day).

Do we connect as simply and profoundly as the centurion — with Jesus?

Do we have a genuine sense of our own unworthiness while at the same time recognizing how loved and blessed and graced we are in our relationship with the Holy One of God?

Advent is calling us to that Great Love in spite of, or even specifically because of and through, our own unworthiness.

Are we ready and willing to be so loved?

Father Perry D. Leiker is the 13th pastor of St. Bernard Catholic Church. Reach him at (323) 255-6142. Email Father Perry at pleiker@stbernard-church.com. Follow Father Perry on Twitter: @MrDeano76.