“5And when Jesus was entered into Capernaum, there came unto him a centurion, beseeching him, 6And saying, Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented. 7And Jesus saith unto him, I will come and heal him. 8The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed. 9For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it. 10 When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel. 11And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven.12 But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 13And Jesus said unto the centurion, Go thy way; and as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee. And his servant was healed in the selfsame hour.” (Matthew 8:5-13)
When Jesus arrives in Capernaum, he is greeted by a Roman commander who is highly esteemed by the local population. The commander begs Jesus to heal his young, ailing servant. The Jews of Capernaum ask that the commander’s request be fulfilled and Jesus agrees. The commander is amazed by his servant’s miraculous recovery, while Jesus is amazed by the commander’s respectful behavior and faith in him. The healing of the servant is not just a physical event; it is an event of great spiritual proportions, as well. Rehabilitation could not be attained through Jesus’ supernatural talents alone. The Roman commander’s openness and faith in Jesus were instrumental. Faith is an inner, universal element. Just as inner darkness underlies all illnesses, so too spiritual light is necessary for any physical recuperation. Divine abundance and the energy needed for overcoming crises are always at hand; it’s just up to us to unlock them. Divine blessings depend, among other things, on our faith in goodness.
The power to heal is the desire and ability to heal ourselves or others through both spiritual and physical means.
