Monday, September 12, 2016

12 September 2016 - nothing owed



Let us approach Jesus with humility. Even if voices surrounding us say that we deserve to have Jesus help us we must not be fooled. Let us be like the centurion who knows that even his love of the nation and building of synagogues don't make him worthy of the presence of Jesus.

Lord, do not trouble yourself,
for I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof.
Therefore, I did not consider myself worthy to come to you;
but say the word and let my servant be healed.

But let us be like the centurion in that, unworthy though we are, we seek him with great faith in his power.

but say the word and let my servant be healed.
For I too am a person subject to authority,
with soldiers subject to me.

We don't come to the feast of the LORD to celebrate ourselves.

Do you not have houses in which you can eat and drink?
Or do you show contempt for the Church of God
and make those who have nothing feel ashamed?

Instead, we come to give thanks and celebrate all that Jesus gives to us.

For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup,
you proclaim the death of the Lord until he comes.

If we are indeed proclaiming the sacrifice of the LORD there is no room for pride. There is no basis on which some should feel more included than others or more worthy than others. From the greatest to the least we are all as unworthy as the centurion. Even the Holy Father speaks these same words, "I am not worthy", in each mass he celebrates. Saint Teresa of Calcutta spoke them in every mass she attended. But, possibly unlike ourselves, the great saints have immense faith in the authority of Jesus. They believe that he can and will stretch forth his healing hand. Let us learn from that faith.

May all who seek you
exult and be glad in you
And may those who love your salvation
say ever, “The LORD be glorified.”

Let us do all we can to welcome others to this same feast. Let us not rush forward, thinking only of ourselves. 

Therefore, my brothers and sisters,
when you come together to eat, wait for one another.

Together we experience all that the LORD has in store for us.


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