“ Nigeria needs leaders with the humility and generosity of the Centurion” says Bishop Kayode Odetoyinbo

(Monday, September 12, 2022)

According to Saint John Paul II, “no one is so rich that he has nothing to receive, and no one is so poor that he has nothing to give.” This means that God has placed on every human person something unique to offer, give and contribute. However, everyone is expected not just to be responsible in contributing, but to also do so selflessly and with humility, without discriminating others. So, the life of the Centurion in the gospel reading today exemplifies a man who lived and contributed to others with selflessness and great humility.

The Centurion is in an influential and powerful position, a leader of special army of 100 soldiers. Of course, his special duty implies he was also rich and wealthy, because he was being highly paid. That afforded him the resources to build a Temple for the people. Although, highly placed and very wealthy, there came a day he needed help. The Centurion sought the help of Jesus through the people for his sick servant. Noticeably, many things about this man attracted Jesus to the extent He exclaimed that “Not even in Israel have I found such faith.

First, the Centurion’s selfless contribution to the Jews; “Second, his tremendous faith in Jesus’ power and word to attain healing for his servant. He wholeheartedly believed in the efficacy of Jesus’ word to heal his servant, even from distance. He was submissive to the Supreme power of God’s healing. Third, despite his exalted and privileged position in the society, the Centurion expressed great humility. He expressed his unworthiness to welcome Jesus under his roof.

In other words, the Centurion was powerful but kind; influential but caring, wealthy but generous, respected but respectful, rich but pious and godly, a commander of many servants but selfless and humble. He offered humble and selfless service to the people with all he had. Unlike the rich Corinthians in the first reading that were discriminating and oppressing the poor, even during ecclesial gathering and Eucharistic meal, the Centurion utilized his position and wealth to build a Temple for the Jews. And this is significant, because the Temple was uniting factor for the gentiles. Also looking at the life of the Centurion, we can see that he is a man of faith, a loving and generous man, a political figure with integrity and heroic humility. So, we are also encouraged to never cease in praying for leaders so that they may have the heart of the Centurion to submissive to the will of God, to be humble and always turn to God in times of difficulties and confusion, most importantly in this period campaign and elections in our country Nigeria.

Dear brothers and sisters, let us imitate the selflessness of the Centurion, by being totally selfless in giving all what has been given and entrusted to us. St. Paul reminds us that there is nothing we have that has not been given from the Lord. “All good gifts are sent from heaven above.” Talent, treasure, health, life, exalted societal and ecclesial positions, all are gifts given for us to use for others. Let us be dedicated in contributing to the development and unity of our social and ecclesial community. Division, faction and discrimination still exists in the Church, society and families today. Like the Centurion, our Christian vocation is to break down all barriers separating people; to preach, pray and work for unity. Let us seek and strengthen the unity in our ecclesial community. The Eucharist must unite us. That we all eat and drink from the same ciborium and chalice should remind us that there is no discrimination in Christ, and there should be none in the Church. That was what Paul emphasized in the first reading, because “the cup of blessing is a fellowship in the body and blood of Christ” (I Cor. 10:16)

Since there cannot be unity without humility, let us imitate the humility of the Centurion, who in his greatness knelt before Jesus. Humility in this sense implies the recognition that everyone has something to give. Humility that breaks the walls of discrimination, that allows acceptance of others and ideas, that breaks the barrier of age, cultural, tribal, religious, social and intellectual status. Humility that helps us to understand that what we offer to others can be also be given by others, when we fail to selflessly do so.

In fact, our selflessness in serving others with our privileged positions is an indication of our faith in God, that the One who healed the Centurion servants, will bless us more. In giving to others and the community, we express our believe that it is the Lord who exalts, gives, blesses and has placed us in our privileged positions in the Church, society and families. Like the Centurion, no matter our state of life, let us be godly, caring, humble, kind to others, selfless, seeking unity and the good of others. The Centurion reminds us that true greatness lies in humility and selfless service to others. He gave all when he had the privilege to, but he also received total answer to the healing request for his servant. When we give selflessly in our riches, we shall be rewarded greatly by the Lord in our spiritual, material, financial and intellectual poverty, since in God’s economy, emptying comes before filling by God.

Little wonder, St. Paul in the first reading of today stresses the importance of unity and communion among Christians and this finds it full meaning through the sharing of Christ’s body and blood, in the Eucharist, in order that we might have a direct union with him, hence it is referred to as communion. This heavenly banquet and mystery serves as the source of our unity which brings together all cultures, races, ideologies under one head, one faith in Jesus Christ. Little wonder St. Pope John II calls the Holy Eucharist the sacrament of unity. This Sacrament gives meaning and vigor to our identity as Catholics and Bishops, and so we are called and encouraged today to be true emissaries of this communion which Christ himself initiated so that we might be in communion with him and with another.

The Eucharistic meal that we partake in is a symbol Christ’s unity with his Church, so we too must strive to unite ourselves with Christ and his Church through the one faith that we share and profess as God’s people and assist one another through the journey of faith to be liberated from all forms vice, envy, sin, bias, like the Centurion today etc., so that at the end, the Good Shepherds himself will count us worthy and give us the grace to share in the communion of saints and the banquet of the eternal life.

We pray that Our Mother Mary will give us the grace to be good shepherds after the heart of Jesus and continue to foster unity amongst us in the Church and in our country Nigeria.