All students of Christian Science have much to learn from the example of the centurion who many years ago, according to the Gospel story, sought the Master and pleaded with him to heal his servant, humbly saying: "Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed. For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man. Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it."
Translated into terms of presentday experience, the type of thinking which the centurion exemplified has deep implications for the seeker after truth. That Jesus himself recognized rare integrity and moral worthiness in this officer of the Roman army is attested by the fact that he "marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel." To the centurion he said, "Go thy way; and as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee." And his servant was healed in that hour.
In the centurion we find one who showed forth in his conduct many desirable spiritual qualities. In the first place, was it not a sign of true spirituality that he should have sufficient faith in the Christ-power to say unreservedly to Jesus, "Speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed"? This recognition of the healing power of Truth betokened more than a small degree of spiritual perception. How many in those days hardened their hearts to shut out the Christ, yet this man, with the worldly background and military training of a centurion, turned with absolute faith to the truth in his hour of need. Spiritual discernment, intuition, expectancy, receptivity, and faith—all these qualities the centurion possessed in goodly measure.
