Matthew 8:18
"Lord, I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof; only say the word and my servant will be healed."
In today's Gospel, Jesus entered Capernaum and was approached by a centurion begging him to heal his paralyzed and suffering servant. After Jesus agrees we hear the centurion's humble response, "Lord, I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof; only say the word and my servant will be healed." The Catholic mind immediately recalls the words that we say at every Mass, just prior to receiving the Eucharist: "Lord, I am not worthy . . . but only say the word and my soul shall be healed." These familiar words roll easily off our lips, but how often do we really ponder them in our hearts? We come to the Sacrament in humility, knowing that we have done nothing to deserve the saving love of Jesus' sacrifice. This humility should not make us feel small, but instead open our hearts to the immense saving power of God. The gift of faith allows us to recognize the transformation of the bread and the wine into the Body and Blood of Christ, and to believe that we too many be transformed through God's mercy.
How is God's mercy and grace at work in your life?
Lord, increase my faith so that I may grow in holiness and service.
Get to know our writers! Today's reflection was written by:
Sabrina Burton Shultz
Did You Know...
Sabrina Burton Schultz holds a B.A. in Religious Studies and Psychology from Saint Leo University and a M.A. in Pastoral Ministry with a concentration in Social Justice from Boston College.Sabrina has been employed in the Diocese of St. Petersburg since 1995, spending her first ten years in ministry as a parish Director of Faith Formation. Sabrina came to work at the Pastoral Center of the Diocese of St. Petersburg in 2006, where she serves as the Director of Life, Justice and Advocacy, overseeing issues of respect life and social justice.
