Open your blue Hymnal to the inside of the front cover. At the bottom is the response during the Fraction Rite; this is just before receiving Communion. The priest says, “Behold the Lamb of God, behold him who takes away the sins of the world. Blessed are those called to the supper of the Lamb.” This is two scripture references put together . . . what John the Baptist says of Jesus, along with Revelation 19:9.
Then your part is [all say it] “Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed.” This is a quote from Matthew 8:5-8 where the Roman centurion is asking for Jesus to heal his servant who is paralyzed and in terrible distress. Jesus says, “I will come and heal him.” Then he responds with that quote.
Now, let’s take this apart. Look at the first line, “Lord, I am not worthy.” Bishop Kinney, former Bishop of St. Cloud who died last year, was famous for pointing out that we DON’T say, “Lord, SHE is not worthy.” or “HE is not worthy.” We are not the judges pointing out who should, or should not, be receiving communion. But we say, “I am not worthy.” And anytime, anyone attends Mass anywhere in the world, they say the same thing. All our modern Popes have said it. All the contemporary saints have said it. All the Catholics in politics say it. Vice President Mike Pence says it. Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi says it.
So who’s worthy? Well, none of us are worthy. None of has ever been worthy. None of us will ever be worthy. The disciples weren’t worthy. All the disciples, except Judas Iscariot are now saints, but you need to remember that they were not “born saints.” They were not worthy:
Nathaniel lacked an openness.
Philip lacked simplicity.
Simon the Zealot lacked non-violence.
Andrew lacked a sense of risk.
Thomas lacked vision.
Judas Iscariot was really not worthy, he lacked spiritual maturity.
Matthew lacked a sense of social sin.
Thaddeus lacked commitment
James, called James the Lesser, lacked awareness,
James and John, two brothers lacked a sense of servanthood.
Peter lacked courage.
I’d like to suggest that these men were classic examples of un-worthiness. And yet Jesus “loved them into worthiness.” It was not their doing, but Jesus’. Same with us. None of us are worthy. We all sin, but it is because of God. Remember . . . we are loved not because we are good, but because God is good.
Next section says, “Come under my roof.” This is interesting. For God does not dwell ONLY in churches or sacred places, but in your house, your apartment, your dorm room. Every place is a place that God dwells, we just have to acknowledge God. God comes to us in our common, ordinary settings.
Finally, we say, “Only say the word and my soul shall be healed.” I wonder what word Jesus said to convince those 12 men to join him? Obviously, he said more than what was recorded here. I assume he said something remarkable . . . that transformed them to leave everything and follow him.
Back to our phrase, maybe the word for you that is “healing” is simply that word: healing? But maybe there is another word that you need right now, at this time in your life for your soul to be heal. Think, for a moment, what that would could be.
Perhaps it is gratitude, or love, or forgiveness. I know that the word for me is “enough.” That’s the word that has really connected things for me. That God is enough. That I am enough. That I have had enough of bad behavior or bad attitude... and that God can/will fill me.
So, here’s your homework for this week. Look that the bulletin cover for today. On it, are some examples of possible words for you to think about, that is, meditate upon. Choose one of those words and ponder it all week long (or all year long). Which word do you need to hear right now (as this time in your life) for you soul to find healing.
In the gospel, Jesus tells the new disciples, “Come after me.” I find it interesting that nowhere in all of the gospels is Jesus quoted as saying, “Worship me.” I mean, people do worship him, but he never asks them to. Instead he asks them (and us) to “Follow me.” Not to follow someone else, like Paul talks about in the second reading. But to follow Jesus. Follow Jesus. Let him say that particular word to you . . . and may your soul be healed.