August 30, 2015: Just Say the Word – Michael Hidalgo

The Roman Centurion comes to Jesus with the same word as the leper in the previous interaction, “Lord…” Beginning with his genealogy, Matthew works to point out that there is not only a King in our midst, but a different kind of king, inaugurating a different kind of kingdom. Furthermore, a different kind of kingdom will be inhabited by a different kind of subject. Subjects merited by deeds will find themselves unable to create space within for this new kingdom. Faith will be the new currency, and absolutely anyone can exercise it. 

Both the leper and the centurion, people who were clearly excluded from the current system both for their defilement and ethno-political affiliations, are held up here as exemplars of faith. They throw everything on one thing—the willingness of God to bring about his kingdom. They forgo their own abilities and their own merit or lack thereof and find that Jesus is indeed willing.