THE ROMAN
Its dusk in
the hills outside Jerusalem and Jesus’ band of faithful, men and women, are
finishing up the meal and preparing for evening prayer when they hear the unmistakable
sound of hoof beats, the creak of leather and the clink of metal.
Those sounds can only mean one thing-Romans. All goes silent as the horses come near.
There are three of them and in lead is the Centurion in charge of all the
troops in Jerusalem. The three stop
several yards away and the Centurion dismounts, removing his sword and helmet, walks toward them. Jesus stands to meet him. The fear is almost visible but all are
silent. The Centurion pays his respects
to Jesus and quietly says; “I’ve come for your help. My servant is ill near to
death”. Without a pause Jesus begins to
walk toward him when the Centurion puts out a hand to stop him and the
disciples hold their breath, the men ready to do battle. “No need”, he says, “say but the word and I
know my servant will be healed.” Everyone
is shocked including the rest of the Romans and Jesus himself at this evidence
of faith.
Go forward, reader, months or years later when this Roman
obeys the order to see this man crucified and calls out boldly from atop his
horse for all to hear: ‘This is truly the Son of God.” Evangelization has begun.
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