GOODNESS REWARDS

The story of the Centurion on Goodness is a popular story that we read in the gospel often. From the narrative we hear from St. Luke that what initiated the healing of the servant of the centurion was certainly the goodness and generosity of the centurion. It was his generosity that healed his servant, this shows that goodness rewards,

One thing about goodness is that you do not know how and when it will play out. So, when you want to do good, do it for the sake of God or for the sake of humanity. Every good act one does without any selfish motive always comes with an unexpected reward.

It was Henry David Thoreau Walden in his book’’ Higher laws ‘’ that says that Goodness is the only investment that never fails’’. While Benjamin Franklin says that it pays to be good because goodness can do what beauty cannot do- extracts from Home of Victory 12.

 Also, in Genesis 18, we see the goodness of Abraham, being instrumental to the promise made by the Lord to him about having a child, through the three men (Angels) who appeared to him as he was seated at the entrance of his house during the hottest part of the day. Therefore, goodness is a weapon that conquers both the physical and spiritual. In fact, when one is simply good, the good that the person does speaks for him/ her.  Another example was in the story of the centurion. We read about the Jewish elders who pleaded with Jesus to go and heal the centurion’s servant. They said to Jesus’’ He deserves this of you because he is friendly towards our people. in fact, he is the one who built the synagogue’’ Based on this information of his goodness, Jesus healed the servant of the centurion.

Goodness has been defined in many words but what is important is that goodness is when what we do is life- saving and can also be defined in our relationship with others. Whenever what we do for others is satisfying to the soul and is life saving then it can be termed to be good.  Heaven is said to be for only good people thus, lets us live our lives with the hunger to do good because ‘’Goodness’’ rewards.

The story of the centurion also shows that no matter our position in life, we should care for our workers irrespective of their status.  From the story, we can deduce that the centurion is a high ranked officer in the Roman army. Judging by his status, one would have thought that the centurion was seeking healing for his child but no, he was asking for his servant to be healed.  He simply pleaded on behalf of his servant and he also did it with humility. What a man of good character.  Therefore, let us be good to the poor, the orphans, the widows and the needy. Goodness rewards.  Wherever we are and whatever we are today, God made it possible. Therefore be good, humble and generous and when we have the opportunity to put a smile on the faces of people, no matter how little, we should not relent.