Monday, 4th DECEMBER St John Damascene, Doctor of the Church. Eusebius of Caesarea .

Monday, 4th DECEMBER
St John Damascene, Doctor of the Church
Matthew 8:5-11

The centurion said, "Lord, my servant is lying paralyzed at home, in terrible distress." And he said to him, "I will come and heal him." But the centurion answered him, "Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof; but only say the word, and my servant will be healed..." When Jesus heard him, he marvelled, and said to those who followed him, "Truly, I say to you, not even in Israel have I found such faith."

Those words are repeated every day in Mass before Holy Communion as a reminder of the faith of this centurion and the faith with which we should approach and adore Our Lord really present in the Eucharist with His Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity. Our Lord praised the faith of that centurion… could he praise yours and mine?

During the Spanish Civil War Bl Álvaro del Portillo was sent to prison for being a Christian. Eventually he was released. With two friends, they enlisted in the army to be sent to the front and cross over to the safe part of the country. Miraculously, the three of them ended up in the same regiment, same battalion, same company, and same platoon! Knowing that they risked their lives, Bl Álvaro managed to get a few Consecrated Hosts that he kept in his wallet in order to receive Holy Communion. When night fell they went for a walk with the Eucharist to do a "Visit to the Blessed Sacrament". "We are living intensely the strength and truth of the Gospel story of the disciples of Emmaus: 'Were not our hearts burning as we walked with Him?'"

Before going to bed one of them went for a walk carrying the Blessed Sacrament away from possible profanity and blasphemies until everyone was asleep. On October 9 they walked 25 miles. "Uphill and downhill slopes…" Bl Álvaro continues, "turns to one side or other, canyons, stream, small ports, paths that lead nowhere, bushes that conceal men, shouting, wind, profanity, night noises, worn-out shoes. A Roman bridge? More. And even more. Stops, soldiers who are lost, boys who swear not to continue...And Our Lord with us; affection, trust, appreciation, mutual words of encouragement...What a long walk for the others! Yet how short is the hike for us!" How short is this stroll of life when we are with Our Lord. 

Mary, Mother of the Eucharist, increase my faith!

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Commentary of the day :

Eusebius of Caesarea (c.265-340), Bishop, theologian, historian
Demonstration of the Gospel, II, 3, 35 (cf. SC 228)

"Many will come from the east and the west, and will recline... at the banquet in the kingdom of heaven"

There are numerous witnesses in the Gospel showing that the pagans received no less grace than the Jews. If the Jews... have a share in the blessing of Abraham, the friend of God, because they are his descendants, let us call to mind that God made a promise to give the pagans a blessing, not only like that of Abraham but of Isaac and Jacob too. Indeed, he clearly foretold that all the nations would be similarly blessed and he invites all peoples to share one and the same joy with those blessed friends of God: "Nations, rejoice with his people" (Dt 32,43 LXX) and again, "The princes of the peoples are gathered together with the people of the God of Abraham" (Ps 47[46],10).

If Israel glorifies herself in God's Kingdom, speaking of it as her heritage, the divine oracles show her that God will also reign over other peoples: "Say among the nations: The Lord is king" (Ps 96[95],10) and again: "God reigns over the nations" (Ps 47[46],9). If the Jews were chosen to be priests of God and to offer him worship..., God's word has promised to bestow the same ministry on the nations: "Give to the Lord, you families of nations, give to the Lord glory and praise; bring gifts and enter his courts" (Ps 96[95],7-8)...

And if formerly, to begin with, "The Lord's own portion was Jacob, his hereditary share was Israel" (Dt 32,9), Scripture subsequently affirms that all peoples will be given to the Lord in inheritance according to the Father's words: "Ask of me and I will give you the nations for an inheritance" (Ps 2,8). And again, prophecy proclaims that he will "rule" not just in Judah but "from sea to sea, to the ends of the earth; all nations shall serve him... and in him shall all the tribes of the earth be blessed" (cf. Ps 72[71],8.11.17). This is how the God of the universe "has made his salvation known in the sight of the nations" (Ps 98[97],2).

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