Lamentations 2:2-19, Psalm 74, Matthew 8:5-17
In the first reading, the Prophet lamented with a poetic sense of beauty on Israel’s defeat. Both the North and South kingdoms have fallen to the Assyrians and Babylonians:
“They cry to their mothers, “Where is bread and wine?” as they faint like wounded men in the streets of the city, as their life is poured out on their mothers’ bosom.” (Lam 2:12)
Dear friends, the true “Bread and Wine” has come. Before we eat the flesh of our Lord at every Holy Communion, the words we say echo the Centurion today:
“Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof; but only say the word, and my soul will be healed.” (c.f. Mt 8:8)
These are profound and deeply powerful words. Do we understand what is truly happening at every Mass? By partaking of the Eucharist, we are telling Jesus we are not taking Him for granted and we want Him to be at the summit of our lives!
The Centurion for sure, did not take Jesus for granted. He was firstly a Roman, hated by the Jews. Secondly, he was of stature in terms of rank, power and wealth. Yet, he humbled himself to come to the Lord seeking His help. He was conscious of his position with respect to the Jews and also sensitive to their customs.
This explains why he did not want to trouble the Lord to go to his house and be contaminated ritually. He had total Faith in the Lord whom he believed could heal from afar. He was most grateful that Jesus would even consider his request and dared not ask for more.
Do we have such Faith like the Centurion? When we echo his words at every Mass, do we truly believe we are receiving Jesus in mind, body and soul?
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