February 25

Third Sunday after Epiphany

And Jesus said unto the centurion, Go thy way; and as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee. And his servant was healed in the self-same hour. S. Matthew 8:13.

THIS heathen centurion drew down by his faith the praises of the Son of God. God hears by delaying to hear. He never hears more deeply than when He delays to hear. He delays only, in order to repay with usury. He delays only, in order to draw out the inmost soul yet deeper longings, that He may satisfy them. He would but increase our hunger and thirst, that He may fill us with Himself. God is not poor and powerless, that He cannot give. But He giveth us as we are able to bear; He giveth as a tender father giveth to his tender children, He giveth them not what will hurt them, giveth them not as will hurt them. This is the trial of our faith. Our whole life is a trial of faith.

O comrade bold of toil and pain!

Thy trial how severe,

When severed first by prisoner's chain

From thy loved labour-sphere!

Say, did impatience first impel

The heaven-sent bond to break?

Or couldst thou bear its hindrance well,

Loitering for Jesu's sake?

Oh, might we know, for sore we feel

The languor of delay,

When sickness lets our fainter zeal,

Or foes block up our way.

Lord! Who Thy thousand years dost wait

To work the thousandth part

Of Thy vast plan, for us create

With zeal a patient heart.