Word

September 17, 2018

One of my favorite parts of the Catholic Mass is when we quote today’s gospel: “Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word, and my soul shall be healed.” I don’t know about you, but I always wonder what particular “word” Jesus would use to heal my soul. Words are such a huge part of my life and to think that with one word, my entire soul would be healed. What word? 

The scene today begins with a Roman centurion who knew of Jesus and was friendly with the Jewish people. A beloved servant of his was ill and so he first went to the practicing religious elders for intercession. They asked Jesus on his behalf saying that he was deserving because he helped build their synagogue. Next, the centurion sent his friends to tell Jesus that he was unworthy to have him enter his home, but if he could just say “the word”, that would be enough to heal his beloved servant. His friends went on to convey to Jesus that the centurion understands the tremendous gift and responsibility that comes with authority and it is this complete reverence for Jesus’ and faith in his power that heals his servant. This Roman centurion had the kind of humility that all the faithful should strive to possess. His love for his employee moved his heart to ask for prayer from his friends, and ultimately his trust in “the word” is what allowed healing to come into his house. 

How amazing and ironic is it, that we quote a Roman centurion (Romans executed Jesus) in our liturgy every day? And to me, it gets very personal when we say, “and MY soul shall be healed.” It really touches me deeply every single time I say it because I want to know what word Jesus would use exactly to heal my soul. This might be a lovely thing to reflect on today. If you could pick one word that would heal your soul…what word would it be? 

Mercy. Love. Forgiveness. Shameless. Freedom. Purity. Joy. Go. Peace. Presence. Now. Done. Bam (LOL). Yes. Be. Come. Turn. Serve. Faith. Well. Humility. 

I find it curious that Jesus does not give a word to the centurion’s friends, but he tells the crowd that he has never seen such faith. Could it be that the word is not an utterance, but the person Himself? I think I just answered my own question. The Word is indeed JESUS and there is power in His Name if we just believe. May we learn from a non-religious centurion how to practice our faith, and may we come to The Word with complete humility so that our beloved ones and our own souls can be healed. And it is well with my soul. 

Reading 1 1 COR 11:17-26, 33

Brothers and sisters:
In giving this instruction, I do not praise the fact
that your meetings are doing more harm than good.
First of all, I hear that when you meet as a Church
there are divisions among you,
and to a degree I believe it;
there have to be factions among you
in order that also those who are approved among you
may become known.
When you meet in one place, then,
it is not to eat the Lord's supper,
for in eating, each one goes ahead with his own supper,
and one goes hungry while another gets drunk.
Do you not have houses in which you can eat and drink?
Or do you show contempt for the Church of God
and make those who have nothing feel ashamed?
What can I say to you? Shall I praise you?
In this matter I do not praise you.

For I received from the Lord what I also handed on to you,
that the Lord Jesus, on the night he was handed over,
took bread and, after he had given thanks,
broke it and said, "This is my Body that is for you.
Do this in remembrance of me."
In the same way also the cup, after supper, saying,
"This cup is the new covenant in my Blood.
Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me."
For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup,
you proclaim the death of the Lord until he comes.

Therefore, my brothers and sisters,
when you come together to eat, wait for one another.

Responsorial Psalm PS 40:7-8A, 8B-9, 10, 17

R. (1 Cor 11:26b) Proclaim the death of the Lord until he comes again.
Sacrifice or oblation you wished not,
but ears open to obedience you gave me.
Burnt offerings or sin offerings you sought not;
then said I, "Behold I come."
R. Proclaim the death of the Lord until he comes again.
"In the written scroll it is prescribed for me,
To do your will, O my God, is my delight,
and your law is within my heart!"
R. Proclaim the death of the Lord until he comes again.
I announced your justice in the vast assembly;
I did not restrain my lips, as you, O LORD, know.
R. Proclaim the death of the Lord until he comes again.
May all who seek you
exult and be glad in you
And may those who love your salvation
say ever, "The LORD be glorified."
R. Proclaim the death of the Lord until he comes again.

Alleluia JN 3:16

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
God so loved the world that he gave his only-begotten Son,
so that everyone who believes in him might have eternal life.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel LK 7:1-10

When Jesus had finished all his words to the people,
he entered Capernaum.
A centurion there had a slave who was ill and about to die,
and he was valuable to him.
When he heard about Jesus, he sent elders of the Jews to him,
asking him to come and save the life of his slave.
They approached Jesus and strongly urged him to come, saying,
"He deserves to have you do this for him,
for he loves our nation and he built the synagogue for us."
And Jesus went with them,
but when he was only a short distance from the house,
the centurion sent friends to tell him,
"Lord, do not trouble yourself,
for I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof.
Therefore, I did not consider myself worthy to come to you;
but say the word and let my servant be healed.
For I too am a person 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 at him
and, turning, said to the crowd following him,
"I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such faith."
When the messengers returned to the house,
they found the slave in good health.