Monday 16th
September 2019. Read 1st Timothy 2:1-8, Psalm 28 and Luke 7:1-10)_
_“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 7:6-7)*_
The words
of the Centurion which we say at every mass just before Holy Communion carries
a lot of weight and teaches us great lessons about our Faith. The centurion
will not let Jesus come to him because he considered himself unworthy to be in
the presence of the man who is God at the same time; the man who is the
commander in chief of the entire universe; the man who can speak and everything
in the world obeys.
Do I have
such faith and such disposition whenever I come forward to receive Holy
Communion? Do I believe I am receiving God who made heaven and earth and in
charge of all that exists? Do I even consider myself worthy enough to receive
Holy Communion or do I come forward for communion just to show others that I am
holy?
While
others were still trying to understand who Jesus is, this Centurion, a
foreigner to the faith had already figured him out. No wonder Jesus would say:
“Prophets are not without honour, except in their hometown, and among their own
kin, and in their own house.” (Mark 6:4). His own people felt he was
blaspheming by calling himself the Son of God yet a Centurion (a roman soldier
in charge of a hundred soldiers) recognized his Divinity.
Coming
again to Holy Communion, each time I step forward to receive, do I remind
myself that I am about to receive God himself under the appearance of bread and
wine? Or like Jesus’ kinsfolk, have I received Holy Communion too many times
that I now begin to take it for granted (become too familiar)?
The
Centurion wanted Jesus to simply utter a word, he knew the distance was not a
barrier. Indeed, the centurion knew that Jesus is the commander in charge of
the universe. Do I recognize this fact also? If so, then why am I always afraid
of demons and spirits? Why is my fear of the devil more than my fear of God?
Do I
really believe in God as the commander and controller of everything that
happens in the universe? Do I have this faith when I pray? That for God
distance is not a barrier? My dear friends, St. Paul ends our first reading
today by urging us to be prayerful; that is, to pray with faith like the
Centurion knowing that God is truly in command and finally, to pray without
anger or quarrelling.
Could this
mean anger and quarrelling has a way of affecting our prayer? I think so. Anger
creates bitterness and hate in our heart; qualities that are not found in God
and if we must relate with God, it is only proper that we approach God with a
mind like his; a mind free from anger and quarrelling.
Let us
pray: Lord Jesus, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof but only say
your word and I shall be healed. Amen.
Be Happy.
Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless you. (Monday of the
24th week in Ordinary Time. Bible Study: 1st Timothy 2:1-8, Psalm 28 and Luke
7:1-10)
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