First Reading (Lamentations 2,2.10-14.18-19)
Reading from the Book of Lamentations.
The Lord mercilessly destroyed all Jacob’s fields; in his anger he tore down the fortifications of the city of Judah; he cast down to the ground, he debased the royalty and their princes. Sitting on the ground in silence, the elders of the city of Zion sprinkled ashes on their heads and put on sackcloth; the young women of Jerusalem bowed their heads to the ground. My eyes are bruised with tears, my insides boil; My gall spills to the ground in front of the ruined city of my people, seeing so many children fainting in the streets of the city. They ask their mothers: “The wheat and the wine, where are they?” And they fall like death in the streets of the city, until they expire in their mothers’ laps. To whom can I compare you, or to whom can I liken you, O city of Jerusalem? To whom shall I make you equal, to comfort you, O city of Zion? Great as the sea is your affliction; who can heal you? Your prophets made you see false and foolish images, they did not expose your malice, to try to change your luck; on the contrary, they gave you lying and attractive oracles. Let your heart cry out to the Lord for the walls of the city of Zion; let a torrent of tears flow, day and night. Don’t give yourself rest, don’t stop the pupils of your eyes from crying. Arise, cry in the dead of the night, at the beginning of the vigils, pour out your heart, like water, before the Lord; Raise your hands to him, for the lives of your little ones, who faint from hunger at every crossroads.
– Word of the Lord.
– Thank God.
Gospel (Matthew 8,5-17)
Proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew.
— Glory to you, Lord.
At that time, when Jesus entered Capernaum, a Roman officer approached him, pleading: “Lord, my servant is in bed at home, suffering terribly from paralysis.” Jesus replied, “I will heal him.” The officer said: “Sir, I am not worthy for you to enter my house. Just say one word and my servant will be healed. For I am also a subordinate and have soldiers under my command. And I say to one: ‘Go! ‘, and he goes; and to another: ‘Come!’, and he comes; and I say to my slave, ‘Do this!’, and he does.” When Jesus heard this, he was astonished, and said to those who followed him, “Truly, I say to you, I have never found anyone in Israel who has so much faith. I tell you, many will come from the East and the West, and will sit at the table in the Kingdom of Heaven, along with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, while the heirs of the Kingdom will be thrown out into darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” Then Jesus said to the officer, “Go! And let it be done as you believed.” And at that very hour the servant was healed. When Jesus entered Peter’s house, he saw his mother-in-law lying down with a fever. She touched his hand, and the fever left her. She got up and began to serve him. When evening fell, they brought many people possessed by the devil to Jesus. He cast out the spirits, with his word, and healed all the sick, so that what was said by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: “He took our pains and carried our infirmities.”
— Word of Salvation.
— Glory to you, Lord.
Reflecting the Word of God
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, as we gather today, we are invited to reflect on the pain and hope that emerges from the depths of our being. Today’s readings take us on a journey through human suffering, but they also point us to the light of compassion and healing that we find in our Lord Jesus Christ.
The First Reading, taken from the book of Lamentations, presents us with a bleak picture of suffering and despair. The author describes the city of Jerusalem devastated, its walls destroyed, its leaders sitting on the ground in silence, covered in dust and ash. “The Lord has mercilessly leveled all the dwellings of Jacob,” we hear, and later, “The elders of the daughter of Zion sit silently on the ground; they throw dust on their heads and put on sackcloth.”
This powerful image reminds us that suffering is an inescapable reality in human life. All of us, at some point, face moments of pain, loss and despair. It could be the loss of a loved one, a serious illness, financial difficulties or personal crises. In the midst of these moments, it is easy to feel like the inhabitants of Jerusalem – desolate, hopeless, lost.
However, Lamentations does not leave us in darkness. The author cries out to the Lord: “Arise, shout in the night, at the beginning of the vigils! Pour out your heart like water before the Lord; lift up your hands to him for the lives of your little children.” Here, we are called to pour out our hearts before God, to lift our hands in prayer and supplication. This is the first step to finding hope in the midst of despair – taking our pain to God, trusting in His mercy, and seeking comfort from Him.
When we turn our gaze to the Gospel of Matthew, we find an answer to our plea. Jesus enters Capernaum and is approached by a centurion who begs him: “Lord, my servant is in bed, paralyzed, suffering terribly.” Jesus’ response is immediate: “I will heal him.” This simple dialogue reveals the depth of Jesus’ compassion. He does not hesitate to respond to the call for help, even from a Roman centurion, a foreigner, a man of another faith.
The centurion, in turn, shows incredible faith. “Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter my house, but just say the word, and my servant will be healed.” This declaration of faith so impresses Jesus that He says, “Truly I say to you, I have not found such faith in anyone in Israel.” And as a result, the centurion’s servant is healed right then and there.
This passage shows us that faith in Jesus, trust in His power and mercy, is the key to healing and hope. No matter how great our pain or how deep our wounds, when we bring our sufferings to Jesus with faith, He is ready to heal us. Jesus not only heals physically, but also offers the spiritual and emotional healing we so desperately need.
Furthermore, today’s Gospel continues to show Jesus healing many others. He heals Peter’s mother-in-law, touches and heals many sick people and casts out demons with his word. These actions of Jesus fulfill what was said by the prophet Isaiah: “He took our infirmities and carried our sicknesses.”
The message here is clear: Jesus is our true doctor, our healer. He took upon Himself our pain and suffering so that we can find healing and redemption in Him. In our Christian walk, we are called to trust Jesus, to carry our burdens to Him, and to allow His love and power to transform our lives.
As we reflect on these readings, we are challenged to look at our own lives and the lives of those around us. How can we be bearers of hope and healing in a world so full of suffering? Here are some practical ways to apply these lessons to our daily lives:
First, let us be compassionate and attentive to the needs of others. Just as Jesus responded to the centurion’s request, let us be quick to respond to the calls for help around us. It could be a friend who needs a shoulder to cry on, a neighbor who needs a meal, or a stranger who needs an act of kindness.
Second, let us cultivate an unshakable faith in Jesus. Just as the centurion believed in the power of Jesus without hesitation, let us also be firm in our faith. In times of difficulty, let us remember that Jesus is with us, ready to help and heal us.
Third, let us take our pains and sufferings to God in prayer. Reading Lamentations reminds us that it is through sincere prayer and supplication that we find comfort and hope. Let us not keep our burdens to ourselves; instead, let us give them to the Lord and trust in his providence.
Finally, let us be agents of healing in our world. Each of us has the ability to make a difference in someone’s life. It can be through a kind word, an act of service, or simply being there for someone in need. Let us remember that as we do this, we are reflecting the love and compassion of Christ.
In conclusion, today’s readings call us to recognize the reality of suffering, but also to find hope and healing in Jesus. When we leave this place, may we take with us the certainty that we are not alone in our pains. Jesus is with us, ready to heal us and give us hope. May we be light in the midst of darkness, bringing the compassion and healing of Christ to everyone we meet. Amen.
