From today’s Gospel reading – Matthew 8:5-11
When Jesus entered Capernaum, a centurion approached him and appealed to him, saying,
“Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, suffering dreadfully.”
He said to him, “I will come and cure him.”
The centurion said in reply,
“Lord, I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof; only say the word and my servant will be healed. For I too am a man subject to authority, with soldiers subject to me. And I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come here,’ and he comes; and to my slave, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”
When Jesus heard this, he was amazed and said to those following him,
“Amen, I say to you, in no one in Israel have I found such faith.
I say to you, many will come from the east and the west, and will recline with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob at the banquet in the Kingdom of heaven.”
Shortly before we receive Holy Communion, we recite the words, “Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed” which is reminiscent of today’s gospel encounter. When we chant these words, we recognize the need for healing in our souls and profess our faith in Christ’s power to bring this about. We must have a humble faith like the Centurion, believing with all our hearts that the Lord can do anything for us.
Lord, people have offended me, they have hurt me, and my soul is wounded. I have faith that You can heal me, because You are the great Healer and Comforter. Make my faith stronger, help me never to doubt Your promises. Amen.