Enter Under My Roof

Monday of the Twenty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time

First of all, I ask that supplications, prayers,
petitions, and thanksgivings be offered for everyone,
for kings and for all in authority,
that we may lead a quiet and tranquil life
in all devotion and dignity.
This is good and pleasing to God our savior,
who wills everyone to be saved
and to come to knowledge of the truth. 1 Timothy 2:1-4

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." Luke 7:6-7

PIETY

Father, help us to exemplify the faith preached by Jesus and exemplified by the

Roman centurion. Give us the humility of your Son so that our pride never gets in the way of your true Words and Works. Amen.

STUDY

Jesus has just completed some important sermons in Capernaum. He preached about the Beatitudes. Then he talked about a tree being known by its fruit, and finally, having a proper foundation between words and deeds, faith and action. After this sermon on the “plains,” he entered the city of Capernaum where Jesus encountered the centurion.

Luke juxtaposes this right next to these important lessons because the centurion -- even though he is a Roman -- exemplifies the qualities of the earlier lessons perfectly. What are we to make of this today?

Perhaps we should realize that no person, group or nation is privileged or exalted over others. If you are saved or born again, you have no special relationship with the Lord which is not also granted to sinners and tax collectors. These days, as college and pro football season gets into full swing, how long will it be until we witness the players of one team kneeling in prayer and holding hands while the kicker goes out to attempt the winning field goal. If the cameras swing to the other side of the field, perhaps we will see the opposing team praying that the kicker will miss. Do we think that God is really there pushing the football through the uprights for one team or blowing it away for the other.

There is a famous story about Abraham Lincoln who was confronted by a person who prayed that God was on the Union side during the Civil War. The sixteenth president is said to have remarked, “Sir, my concern is not whether God is on our side; my greatest concern is to be on God's side, for God is always right.”

Action

Every time we attend Mass, we repeat the prayer of the humble centurion right before approaching the altar.

Yesterday, I attended Mass at the Trappist monastery of Holy Cross Abbey in Berryville, Virginia.  The prayers they offered are recited at a much slower pace than in our local parish where we have to race to get back to the parking lot in an hour or less in case we miss brunch or the kickoff to the NFL Game of the Week or to beat the crowds to Safeway.

The next time you recite this prayer.  Repeat it slowly.  Slower than that.

Lord!  

I am not worthy…

For you to enter under my roof. 

Only say the word…

And my soul shall be healed.