A Moment Forever

“Lord, do not trouble Yourself, for I am not worthy that You should enter under my roof. Therefore I did not even think myself worthy to come to You. But say the word, and my servant will be healed."

Luke 7:6-7 NKJV

The Gospels tell us that in Capernaum (Capernaum) there is a garrison of Roman soldiers commanded by a centurion, whose origins we do not know (Matthew 8; Luke 7). We know that he had a centuria, about two hundred men, under his command, with whom he guarded the territory. He was probably a veteran, a valiant fighter who had earned his rank in battle. This man is very concerned about his sick servant, who does not have much time left. His desperation finds a glimmer of light in Jesus, who is in town that day, and he turns to him through the Jewish elders. When asked, Christ does not shy away, and when he is almost at his destination, the centurion stops him. For him, just one word is enough! Yes, a moment can change history, a moment can change your life forever, for better or for worse. So “there is not a moment to lose,” because a brief moment can, in some circumstances, save a life or lose it. Just imagine an emergency situation where rescue is crucial. Yet in this age of instant gratification, we increasingly hear people complaining that they don't have time to do this or that: “I don't have a moment to breathe.” But most of the time it's a matter of moments, moments that will never come back, just like the snap of a photo that immortalizes a unique moment.

We prefer to argue with ourselves when a moment of distraction burns what we had left on the stove, forcing us to start all over again. Almost all domestic accidents are caused by a moment of inattention that can leave lasting marks. Those who have children know that they cannot afford the slightest distraction, because a moment is enough for tragedy to strike. When driving, it can be fatal to find yourself off the road, against a wall, or in the opposite lane. Distraction and life are in constant conflict. That is why we cannot afford to be careless. Distraction is synonymous with a lapse in attention, and therefore a moment in which we expose ourselves to something that cannot be weighed or controlled, a danger. If it is difficult to be constantly vigilant, it is equally important never to lose control of one's emotions and fall prey to anger, because this is where a moment of madness arises. A moment after being praised by the Master, Peter felt himself being called a devil (Matthew 16:23). After his famous proclamation of faith, “You are the Christ, the Son of God” (Matthew 16:16), he has a spontaneous reaction that reveals intentions contrary to those of Jesus. Thinking in a human way, but without realizing it, he hinders the realization of the Kingdom of God by rejecting the cross. Distraction, folly, and other things could be limited and/or avoided with a moment of attention, an extra moment of reflection, a moment when you stop and look around, a moment when you ask yourself what you are doing.

We mistakenly believe that the exercise of faith requires long journeys, arduous paths, and years of waiting. It may be true that God's intervention is not always immediate, but to believe, ask, and receive, a moment is enough, as small as that mustard seed mentioned by the Lord. It was a moment of faith when the woman with the issue of blood approached Jesus in the crowd and touched his garment, having decided in her heart that this would be enough to heal her. It was a moment before his death that the repentant thief turned to the Son of God, asking him, “Remember me when you come into your kingdom,” and receiving a positive response. With Him, it takes very little to achieve an eternal result. Don't miss this opportunity. A well-known Italian singer-songwriter asks in one of his songs, “Do you have a moment, God?” Then he admits, “or I don't hear you.” We often fail to notice that God exists even in the smallest things. We are the ones who don't think about Him, or who allow ourselves to be intimidated by the idea that there is a long line in front of us, so we will remain unheard and unconsidered. If you want my opinion, I assure you that this is not the case. So take a moment now, turn to Him, touch His robe. A moment, a word, a touch.

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Weekly Bible reading Plan #41

October 6, Isaiah 26-27; Philippians 2

October 7, Isaiah 28-29; Philippians 3

October 8, Isaiah 30-31; Philippians 4

October 9, Isaiah 32-33; Colossians 1

October 10, Isaiah 34-36; Colossians 2

October 11, Isaiah 37-38; Colossians 3

October 12, Isaiah 39-40; Colossians 44