As is the case with many of the words which we say frequently, we can overlook the importance of these oft-repeated words: “I am not worthy that you should come under my roof.” We utter these words every time we prepare to approach the table of the Eucharist. They have their origin in Luke 7, 1-10: a Roman centurion felt unworthy to be approached by Jesus, yet he knew that Jesus had only to say a word and his slave would be made whole again.
The centurion recognized the very special authority that Jesus had, an authority, in some respects, not unlike his own as an army officer. He had only to say “Go” to a soldier and he went; he only had to say “Do this” and it was done. Jesus could do the same. Jesus was amazed at the man’s faith: “I have never found such faith, even in Israel.”
Worthy of our attention in this healing story is the faith of this man, a Gentile, a faith which, again, Jesus said He had never encountered, even among many of His own people. Let’s never forget that Jesus can reveal Himself to the most “unlikely” persons and that we must never presume that a person is unfit for the Christian life for any reason at all. The Lord can call anyone – and He does. May we seek the grace to follow the example of the centurion in our confidence in God’s healing power in our lives.
