Matthew 8:8

 Matthew 8:8

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.

Just before we receive Jesus in the Eucharist, we remember and speak the words of Matthew 8:8. This scripture passage reminds us that we have a need for humility and trust before Christ.  We should not feel entitled to the Eucharist, because none of us deserve it.

We are not worthy to receive the Eucharist.  Nothing we could say or do could make us deserve it.  Ultimately, God is holy, and we are weak sinners, and by pure justice, He should have nothing to do with us.  But He comes to us anyway in the Eucharist.  

These words that we say together come straight from the Gospel of Matthew (Mt 8:8), and the story of the centurion who comes to Jesus asking healing for his servant.  He is not a Jew.  He does not even seem to be a follower of Jesus.  He has no right to Jesus’ healing at all, but he has great faith and humility, and he begs the Lord to heal his servant.

In His infinite mercy, Jesus heals our souls.  We are not worthy, but Christ makes us worthy to receive Him.

H/T: Michael Grosch