Worthy

“‘Lord, do not trouble yourself, for I am not worthy to have you come under my roof; therefore I did not presume to come to you. But say the word, and let my servant be healed.’” (Luke 7:10).

Jesus healing the servant of a Centurion (Paolo Veronese)

I have been thinking of worthiness.  Saint Simon Peter was not worthy to be the first Pope.  He was a weak man who betrayed Christ and made many mistakes.  And yet, he was called to be the Holy Father and Christ’s representative on earth – not because of his worthiness, but because of his love and humility.

The difference between Saint Peter and Judas Iscariot is that Saint Peter begged Christ’s forgiveness after he denied Him three times before the cock crowed, and Judas hanged himself because he despaired of Christ forgiving him and could not allow himself to move on in life.

I have been reflecting – not only – on these two men, but also on others who we are told about in the Gospels…  The centurion is one who comes to mind…

“A centurion had a slave who was dear to him, who was sick and at the point of death. When he heard of Jesus, he sent to him elders of the Jews, asking him to come and heal his slave...And Jesus went with them. When he was not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to him, saying to him, ‘Lord, do not trouble yourself, for I am not worthy to have you come under my roof; therefore I did not presume to come to you. But say the word, and let my servant be healed.’” (Luke 7:1-10).

And his humility was so pleasing to God that God continued to reward him for it by allowing that humility to be remembered in every single Mass celebrated in the world until the end of time…

And that is a significant thing.  After all, the Blessed Virgin is not quoted in every Mass (and she is God’s masterpiece).  Instead, it is an unnamed, non-Jewish man who is quoted in the Holy Mass ad infinitum…  “Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed…”

Saint John Vianney explained worthiness so clearly.  He explained that if God had considered our worthiness, there would never have been instituted the Sacrament of the Eucharist…  But instead, He considered His own love for us…  Saint Teresa of Jesus wrote: “When you do not receive communion and you do not attend Mass, you can make a spiritual communion, which is a most beneficial practice; by it the love of God will be greatly impressed on you.” St. John Vianney taught, “If we are deprived of Sacramental Communion, let us replace it by spiritual communion, which we can make every moment...when we cannot go to the church, let us turn towards the tabernacle; no wall can shut us out from the good God.”

And when I remember those dark days of the COVID-19 pandemic, when everything felt so terribly hopeless and we were not even allowed to attend Holy Mass or receive the Sacraments, I am overcome by my own unworthiness and God’s ability to overcome that through His great love for me.  How blessed I am.  How truly blessed I am…

For with prayer, I stand on Holy Ground where everything is clear. Here. At the Foot of the Cross.