Readings: Romans 12:16–21; Matthew 8:1–13
Liturgical Rank: II Classis
The liturgical texts for the Third Sunday after Epiphany invite us to contemplate the breadth of God’s mercy and the universality of His grace, particularly as extended beyond Israel to the Gentiles. We see this in the Gospel, where our Lord heals a leper and, more strikingly, praises the faith of a Roman centurion. The Epistle from Romans 12 draws us into the moral obligations that flow from divine charity, urging us to embody Christian meekness, humility, and forgiveness.
Romans 12:16–21 – Overcoming Evil with Good
“Be not wise in your own conceits. Render to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men… If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, have peace with all men… Be not overcome by evil: but overcome evil by good.” (Rom 12:16–21)
Here St. Paul exhorts the Christian to a life of humility and magnanimity—a disposition that flows from being conformed to Christ. As St. John Chrysostom comments:
“The soul in harmony with itself, and filled with love, makes room for grace; but he who is proud cannot bear the Spirit. He who is humble overcomes the devil.”
— Homily on Romans 21
This apostolic instruction to “overcome evil with good” reflects the divine pattern of redemption itself. The Incarnate Word did not retaliate against His enemies but embraced the Cross in silence, thereby triumphing over death. As St. Augustine teaches:
“What is it to overcome evil with good, but to draw the wicked to the love of virtue by patience?”
— De Sermone Domini in Monte, I. 19
Such instruction is no vague moralism; it is the precise shape of Christian charity, particularly needed in a world hardened by pride and vengeance. The third Sunday after Epiphany reminds us that the light of Christ’s Epiphany is not merely doctrinal—it is transformational. The grace that brings salvation teaches us to deny the self and love as Christ loves (cf. Titus 2:11–12).
Matthew 8:1–13 – Faith and the Gentiles
In the Gospel, two miracles are recounted: the cleansing of the leper and the healing of the centurion’s servant. Each miracle bears rich theological meaning, especially in this post-Epiphany season, where the manifestation of Christ to the nations is progressively unveiled.
The leper comes in humble supplication: “Lord, if Thou wilt, Thou canst make me clean.” Here is a model of prayer—no presumption, only faith. Christ’s response is immediate: “I will; be thou made clean.” The Fathers read this as a sign of Christ’s divine authority and compassion. St. Jerome remarks:
“He stretched out His hand, not because He could not have cleansed him by a word, but to show that He is not under the Law, which forbade touching lepers.”
— Commentary on Matthew
Next, we meet the Roman centurion, whose faith astonishes the Lord: “Amen I say to you, I have not found so great faith in Israel.” This pagan military man grasps a profound Christological truth: that Jesus has divine authority, and His word is efficacious. The centurion’s humility is forever echoed in the Mass: “Domine, non sum dignus…”
St. Bede the Venerable reflects:
“The centurion who believed and was not of Israel is a figure of the Gentile people, to whom salvation was granted through faith.”
— Homilies on the Gospels I, 22
Christ’s healing at a distance prefigures the salvation of the Gentiles who, though not physically near Him in the flesh, are brought near by faith. Thus, the Gospel aligns with the theme of Epiphany—the manifestation of the Savior to all peoples, even those far off.
Liturgical Resonance and Theological Harmony
The Collect for this Sunday petitions God to “mercifully regard the weakness of our nature, and stretch forth the right hand of Thy majesty to protect us.” The hand that cleansed the leper and healed the servant is the same that now sustains the Church. The miracles in today’s Gospel are not merely historical; they are sacramental signs pointing to the divine charity poured out through Christ into His mystical Body.
Dom Prosper Guéranger, in his Liturgical Year, notes the significance of this Sunday:
“The Gentiles, represented by the centurion, are beginning to take the place of the Jews. This is the result of the manifestation of the Savior… The faith of the centurion is a lesson to us who live in the latter days.”
The Epistle and Gospel together call us to reflect on our participation in this great mystery: having received such grace, do we now live as sons of the Kingdom? Do we love as Christ loved, even our enemies? Have we faith like the centurion—humble, confident, and submissive to divine authority?
Conclusion
The Third Sunday after Epiphany reminds us that the light of Christ is not confined—it breaks boundaries. It heals the outcast, it responds to the humble cry of the pagan, and it teaches the faithful to overcome evil not with might, but with the enduring power of good. Let us, then, live not in pride or retaliation, but in the humility of faith and the largeness of divine charity.
As St. Leo the Great urges:
“The greatness of Christian virtue consists in loving not only those who are near and dear, but even those who are opposed to us.”
— Sermon 39, On the Beatitudes
Suggested Prayer:
O Lord Jesus Christ, who didst cleanse the leper with a touch and heal the servant of the centurion by Thy word, grant us the humility of faith, that we may be cleansed of sin and made worthy to enter under Thy roof. Through the intercession of Thy saints, may we love as Thou hast loved. Amen.