“Lord, I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof; only say the word and my servant will be healed.” These are the great words of faith said by the centurion that we see in today’s Gospel reading from Matthew 8. As we echo these words each time we attend Mass, just before receiving Jesus in the Eucharist, let them be words of great faith for us.
This is the end of our first reading today from Isaiah 4: “For over all, the LORD’s glory will be shelter and protection: shade from the parching heat of day, refuge and cover from storm and rain.” Shelter and protection, refuge and cover. Aren’t these things that we all need?
Shelter is one of the basic needs of every person, along with food and water. When storms and rain come, we need shelter, we seek refuge. This is true physically, but also emotionally and spiritually. Many try to find refuge elsewhere – in alcohol, drugs, sex, money, power…the list goes on and on. But the only place we will find true shelter, everlasting protection, constant refuge, is in God. Let us look to the Lord first for our shelter.
Father, forgive us for the times we seek refuge in anything or anyone but you. May we always find our shelter in you alone. Amen.
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