This whole Gospel story such a beautiful profession of faith and outpouring of God’s mercy! After the centurion tells Jesus that his servant is at home sick, paralyzed and suffering, Jesus agrees to come and cure him. But the centurion, knowing his unworthiness, tells him “Lord, I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof; only say the word and my servant will be healed.” This statement of faith absolutely astounds Jesus and he says: “Amen, I say to you, in no one in Israel have I found such faith.” And so the healing of the man’s slave takes place at once. It’s an interesting and inspiring exchange, to be sure.
We have the privilege, every time we gather for the Eucharist, to echo the centurion’s faith. Just before we come to the Altar for Holy Communion, we say together: “Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof. But only say the word and my soul shall be healed.” And saying those words out loud is so important at that moment in the Mass. Unless we truly believe that Christ’s Body and Blood are sufficient for the healing of our souls, unless we truly know that we are completely unworthy of God’s mercy, then we don’t have the faith necessary to receive the Body and Blood of our Lord.
But when we do enter into that moment of Communion with hearts open in faith, everything changes for us. True healing can come about, and we can return to our daily lives and find our souls healed with the grace that prepares them for whatever this world brings them. When we receive Holy Communion in this most worthy way, perhaps we can hear our Lord saying also to us: “You may go; as you have believed, let it be done for you.”