Only Speak the Word

After Jesus had finished all his sayings in the hearing of the people, he entered Capernaum. A centurion there had a slave whom he valued highly, and who was ill and close to death. When he heard about Jesus, he sent some Jewish elders to him, asking him to come and heal his slave. When they came to Jesus, they appealed to him earnestly, saying, ‘He is worthy of having you do this for him, for he loves our people, and it is he who built our synagogue for us.’ And Jesus went with them, but when he was not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to say to him, ‘Lord, do not trouble yourself, for I am not worthy to have you come under my roof; therefore I did not presume to come to you. But only speak the word, and let my servant be healed. For I also am a man set under authority, with soldiers under me; and I say to one, “Go”, and he goes, and to another, “Come”, and he comes, and to my slave, “Do this”, and the slave does it.’ When Jesus heard this he was amazed at him, and turning to the crowd that followed him, he said, ‘I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such faith.’ When those who had been sent returned to the house, they found the slave in good health. Soon afterwards he went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a large crowd went with him. As he approached the gate of the town, a man who had died was being carried out. He was his mother’s only son, and she was a widow; and with her was a large crowd from the town. When the Lord saw her, he had compassion for her and said to her, ‘Do not weep.’ Then he came forward and touched the bier, and the bearers stood still. And he said, ‘Young man, I say to you, rise!’ The dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother. Fear seized all of them; and they glorified God, saying, ‘A great prophet has risen among us!’ and ‘God has looked favorably on his people!’ This word about him spread throughout Judea and all the surrounding country. Luke 7:1-17

We easily believe things that are put in writing while things told to us often seem to be stories. Yet, the Indigenous people of the Americas were those who had oral traditions so deep and old that the stories told help all the knowledge and power for the people. When Sequoyah set to write the Cherokee syllabary, he did so in a time when the spoken word was ignored and written was king. He wanted our people to have authority by writing things down to prove our worth to the settlers and the government. Jesus encounters a Centurion whose word was power, and the Centurion knew Jesus word was powerful healing. So much so that the dead young man came to life and all were amazed by the power of Jesus' words.

Wondrous Creator who brings our world to life

you delight in the many shades on our earth

you rejoice when we are connected hear to heart

and your word brings new life to dead places.

We often limit ourselves to the written word

and fail to listen to the stories of the people
we think knowledge only comes from books

when knowledge and understanding are yours alone.

Help us to trust in your words of life given to all

let us be bearers of the stories of your love

help us to listen to the hearts of the people

and make us all one Lord, in our time. Amen