This prayer is based on the story of the Roman officer who asked Jesus to heal his servant. It’s a meditation on the authority given to each of us by God and how we are invited to wield it on his behalf. It also asks us to consider how God has stretched our faith in the past and how he might be doing so in the present. The prayer time begins with a breathing exercise called box breathing, which can be used by someone who is in a state of stress or agitation to attain focus and calm. If you are planning to lead this prayer, leave plenty of space for reflection in between the questions.
Find a comfortable position and close your eyes. Breathe in through your nose slowly, counting to four as you inhale. Hold for four counts, then breathe out for four counts. Repeat: inhale, 2-3-4, hold, 2-3-4, release 2-3-4. Inhale, 2-3-4, hold, 2-3-4, release, 2-3-4.
How do you come to prayer today? What is the state of your mind? Your body? Your heart? What hopes and fears, worries and joys do you bring to Jesus today?
For today’s prayer time, I will guide you through an imaginative prayer on Matthew 8:5-13. This is the story of a Roman officer who asked Jesus to heal his servant from a terrible illness.
As you listen to the story, pay notice what most catches your attention and sparks your imagination.
Jesus, I pray that you would guide this time of contemplation and prayer. Enliven our senses and our imaginations to perceive you. Enfold us with your love.
Matthew 8:5-13
When Jesus returned to Capernaum, a Roman officer[b] came and pleaded with him, 6 “Lord, my young servant[c] lies in bed, paralyzed and in terrible pain.”
7 Jesus said, “I will come and heal him.”
8 But the officer said, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you come into my home. Just say the word from where you are, and my servant will be healed. 9 I know this because I am under the authority of my superior officers, and I have authority over my soldiers. I only need to say, ‘Go,’ and they go, or ‘Come,’ and they come. And if I say to my slaves, ‘Do this,’ they do it.”
10 When Jesus heard this, he was amazed. Turning to those who were following him, he said, “I tell you the truth, I haven’t seen faith like this in all Israel! 11 And I tell you this, that many Gentiles will come from all over the world—from east and west—and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob at the feast in the Kingdom of Heaven. 12 But many Israelites—those for whom the Kingdom was prepared—will be thrown into outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
13 Then Jesus said to the Roman officer, “Go back home. Because you believed, it has happened.” And the young servant was healed that same hour.
What are your immediate responses to this passage? What stands out to you? With whom do you most identify? With the officer? With the servant? Or with Jesus? At what point of the story did your strongest emotions emerge?
I will read the passage again. This time, use your imagination to place yourself in the scene. You may imagine yourself as someone in the story or perhaps as an observer or an object. Use your senses and emotions to fill in the story – see the light glinting off the solder’s armor and hear Jesus’ voice as he expresses compassion or surprise. Smell the dust in the air and feel the heat of the sun on your skin. Or perhaps feel the pain and fear of the sick servant.
The story in your imagination does not need to unfold in the same way as the passage, nor does it need to stop when the passage does. Allow God to guide your imagination as he will.
When Jesus returned to Capernaum, a Roman officer[b] came and pleaded with him, 6 “Lord, my young servant[c] lies in bed, paralyzed and in terrible pain.”
7 Jesus said, “I will come and heal him.”
8 But the officer said, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you come into my home. Just say the word from where you are, and my servant will be healed. 9 I know this because I am under the authority of my superior officers, and I have authority over my soldiers. I only need to say, ‘Go,’ and they go, or ‘Come,’ and they come. And if I say to my slaves, ‘Do this,’ they do it.”
10 When Jesus heard this, he was amazed. Turning to those who were following him, he said, “I tell you the truth, I haven’t seen faith like this in all Israel! 11 And I tell you this, that many Gentiles will come from all over the world—from east and west—and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob at the feast in the Kingdom of Heaven. 12 But many Israelites—those for whom the Kingdom was prepared—will be thrown into outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
13 Then Jesus said to the Roman officer, “Go back home. Because you believed, it has happened.” And the young servant was healed that same hour.
How did the story unfold for you? What did you notice? What did you feel in your emotions or in your body?
What did you sense the Lord communicating to you through your imagination? What would you like to say to him in return?
Two themes that come up in this story are authority and faith. Like the Roman soldier, there are places in your life where you are under authority and places where you have authority.
First and foremost, you are under the authority of God. What does that mean to you? How do you feel about being under God’s authority? Are there any places you are trying to retain authority over your own life? What would it look like to surrender those areas to God?
You also have God-given authority through Jesus and the Holy Spirit: authority to pray and work for God’s purposes, to ask for the Holy Spirit’s guidance and help, and to help others experience the power and love of God. How do you feel about having this kind of authority? Are there any kinds of authority that God seems to have especially gifted you with – for example, the authority to heal or teach or pray, to free people from the influence of evil spirits, to prophesy, or to help others know Jesus?
Is there any kind of spiritual authority you would like to ask for? If you feel comfortable doing so, ask Jesus for it now.
In the human realm, you may also have authority: for example, over your family our household, or over people who work for you. You may have authority that comes from your job title, your education, or your experience. Based on your ethnicity and gender or other characteristics, you may have or lack certain kinds of cultural or social authority.
What kinds of authority to do you have? In other words, in what areas of life do you have the power to make something happen? In this past week, how have you used your authority?
What kinds of authority might you lack?
Are there any ways that God is inviting you to change how you wield your power? How might you be called to use or expand your authority? What kinds of power might you be invited to give up?
Turning to the question of faith, what are some ways you have exercised faith in the past? How did it feel to have your faith stretched? What was the result?
Where is your faith being challenged right now? Where in your life is God saying, “Go,” “Come,” or “Do this?” How would you like God to meet you in this challenge of faith?
In the week to come, what is one way you can exercise your faith? And what is one way you can use your authority, either in the human or spiritual realm, on behalf of God and God’s purposes?
Move now to a time of silence. For a moment, sit face to face with Jesus. Imagine his loving, accepting gaze on you. Take in the expression of his face, the posture of his body. Feel his heart. What would you like to take away from your time with him?
Jesus, I thank you that you have all authority in heaven and on earth. I thank you that you always use your power to help, heal, and save, never to harm. Help us to step into the authority you have given us, whether spiritual or in the human realm, so that we may participate in your Kingdom mission. And help us to dismantle systems of false authority that lead to oppression and suffering. Help us to use our power as Jesus did, on behalf of others.
Thank you for joining this time of prayer. As you go from here, may the Holy Spirit bring you the imagination, authority, and faith to see what God is doing and join in. Amen.
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Find guided contemplative prayers set to original ambient music at soulspace.center.
