Sunday/Daily Visitor

It’s been almost a year now since we started using the new words of the Mass.

And also with you, became – And with your spirit.

Lord I am not worthy to receive you, became –

Lord I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof,

Those were the words of the faith-filled Centurion.

He initially asked Jesus to come to his house to cure his dying servant.

But on further reflection decided he was unworthy to have Jesus enter his house.

So, he told Jesus that he needn’t come.

He greatly impressed Jesus with his faith.

He had complete confidence that Jesus could just as easily cure the servant from afar.

Mary, in today’s Gospel, seems far less concerned about her unworthiness.

She’s happy to have Jesus enter under her roof, and to just sit and listen to him.

Her sister, Martha, is anxious and worried about preparation, hospitality and many things.

But even she doesn’t express concern about her unworthiness.

Jesus was their friend and visited with them often at their house.

The house they shared with their brother, Lazarus.

As they came to fully realize who Jesus was, they surely also realized their unworthiness.

But at the same time, they also recognized their continuing friendship.

They may not have been worthy; who could be?

But they knew that Jesus wanted to be with them.

He came of his own accord.

In our Mass, just before communion, we echo the words of the Centurion.

We don’t mean them in the same literal sense he did.

We’re speaking figuratively, referring to Jesus entering not our house but our selves.

But we do mean to express the same unworthiness that the Centurion recognized.

The same unworthiness that Mary and Martha also recognized.

And we realize that no one can be truly worthy of that visitation.

We can and should profess our faith, like the Centurion did.

We can and should prepare and serve, like Martha did.

But that doesn’t make us worthy to have Jesus enter under our roof.

Yet, unworthy as we are, he comes to us anyway.

At his choosing; as a friend.

And he’s told us what he would like for us to do when he comes.

We should follow Mary’s example and choose the better part.

We should sit with him.

And listen.

Read This Scripture at usccb.org

Tuesday of the 27th Week in Ordinary Time

Lk 10:38-42