Remember the first reading from yesterday, when Abraham laughed when God told him that he and Sarah would have a son? Well, there are more laughs in today’s first reading. Three men appear at Abraham’s tent, and one tells him that Sarah will bear a son by next year. Sarah hears this and laughs, too. Thus, Isaac (which means “laughter”) comes into the world. Part of our Gospel reading should be very familiar to Catholics.
In Matthew 8, a centurion meets up with Jesus and asks Jesus to heal his servant. Jesus, because of the man’s great faith, agrees to go to his home and heal the servant. But the man knows that this is not necessary. So he says to Jesus, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof; only say the word and my servant will be healed.” Sound familiar? It should! At every Mass, before we go to receive Jesus in Holy Communion, we echo those words.
“Lord, I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof; only say the word and my soul shall be healed.” Can you imagine if only those who were worthy were able to go up and receive communion? Why, there would be NO ONE in the Communion line. Because none of us is worthy to receive Jesus. But through His righteousness, and by His Blood, His sacrifice, we are made worthy. Now that’s some good news!
Father, you know that we are not worthy. Yet, because of Jesus, you count us as worthy. Thank you for your grace and mercy. Amen.
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