Have Come,

❝

We learn from the centurion to face Jesus, to keep watch over him, to behold him, to contemplate him. At first the centurion spent hours watching over Jesus out of duty but ended up contemplating him in truth.

…He heard the lies fabricated in the Sanhedrin and Pilate’s surrender to the crowd, despite the lack of a case against Jesus. He beheld people ridiculing Jesus, spitting on him, stripping him and crucifying him. He heard the painful cry, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Mk 15:34). The centurion saw incredible cruelty from friends, leaders, and even from a distant God.

…But I also believe that in Jesus the centurion saw incredible love, love for the God who had failed to remove this cup of suffering from him, and love for neighbors. For his enemies, he begged the Father’s forgiveness (Lk 23:34). To a bandit he promised paradise (Lk 23:43). For his mother he secured a new family (Jn 19:26-27). And to the God who had abandoned him, he abandoned himself, “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit” (Lk 23:46).

The centurion saw love blooming in the aridity of inhumanity. Amidst the noise of ridicule and lies, this man Jesus uttered words of fidelity and truth. Everywhere people were shouting “no” to Jesus, but the centurion heard from Jesus only “yes” to the Father, “yes” to neighbors, “yes” to mission. In this horrible cross of hatred and violence, the centurion found love, unwavering love, a love that refused to die, a love that was strong as steel against evil, yet tender before the beloved.

Archbishop Luis Antonio Tagle, Address on the Eucharist (49th International Eucharistic Congress)