23 July 2010: ‘Lord, I am not worthy ...;

... but only say the word ...’

The miraculous cure of the leper wrought at the very gates of Capernaum was as a ray of light to the Roman centurion who commanded the little garrison. Though a pagan, he acknowledged Jesus as the Master of creation.

Hearing that Jesus was near the town, he hoped to obtain a favor in the cure of a beloved paralyzed servant. He sent Jewish elders to Jesus who pleaded his cause, saying, “He deserves this of you, for he loves our nation, and even built us a synagogue” (Lk 7:4-5).

How admirable is this Gentile’s charity toward a servant! It was active, generous. After having spent much for him on physicians, he seeks help from Jesus, exposing himself to ridicule by other pagans.

If such was the charity of a man who understood neither its motives nor its supernatural merit, what ought to be ours in respect to our brethren in Jesus Christ! What shame it will be for us if our charity is less active, less generous, less disinterested than his!

“... an army captain approached him saying, ‘Sir, my servant is sick at home, paralyzed and suffers terribly’. Jesus told him, ‘I will come and heal him’.” (cf Mt 8:6-7)

“The captain replied, ‘I am not worthy to have you under my roof. Just give an order, and my servant will be healed. For I also am a man under orders and I have soldiers under me. If I say to one, ‘Go’, he goes; and if I say to another, ‘Come’, he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this’, he does it.” (cf Mt 8:8-9)

He meant, ‘Far easier is it, then, for you, who are Master of all creation, to speak to the malady, and it will obey you. My servant will be cured’.

We all greatly admire this captain who had been enlightened by grace. What great humility, what ardent faith, expressed with the frankness and simplicity of a true soldier. What confidence he had in our Lord’s goodness! He told his story, made his petition, and had so firm a conviction of our Lord’s power and mercy, he could not doubt the result.

Do we have this faith and confidence in our prayers? Does the captain have a deeper conviction than any of us? Do we fully understand our Lord’s power and love?

The centurion’s prayer, so beautiful in its simplicity, delighted the heart of Jesus. “... and told them who were following him, ‘I tell you, I have not found such faith in Israel’. ... Then Jesus said to the captain, ‘Go home now. What you believed will happen’. That very moment his servant was healed.” (Mt 8:10, 13)

This, then, was the centurion’s reward: immediate and complete cure of his servant, extraordinary praise bestowed on him by the Incarnate Word, and an everlasting celebrity throughout the whole world.

The words which his faith, humility and confidence brought to his lips, the Church placed in the mouths of both priests and faithful at the moment of holy communion.[“Lord, I am not worthy ...” (Lk 7:6; Mt 5:8)]

Let us bless and exalt God’s liberality towards us; and reciprocate it by a continual self-immolation.

Ref: cf “Practical Meditations” by a Father of the Society of Jesus, 1964, pp463-5

The need for prayer

Why go to the trouble of pulling away from distractions, putting our thoughts together and praying to God? Why go through all this trouble and effort?

The first reason is the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. The lifestyle of Jesus showed that prayer held highest priority for Him. The Gospels often describe Christ at prayer.

He prayed before the most important decisions and actions of His ministry. Mark writes about a typical day in the life of Jesus; and how despite intense activity he went off alone into the desert to pray.

Luke mentions prayer so often it seems part of a consistent pattern of prayer before activity; as if prayer was the constant background of Christ’s life. The Lord prayed, commanded His followers to pray, even scolded His apostles for not praying enough.

So, we latter-day followers of that Master must pray. To be a Christian, a Catholic, means to pray.

A second reason for praying is its personal benefits. St Thomas Aquinas says that prayer brings about “a certain spiritual refreshment of the mind”. Here is your secret of balance in the midst of tensions and crises.

Here is your daily view from eternity -- an Archimedean point outside yourself to lift any worry or burden. Daily prayer ought to be personally much more beneficial than a vacation, a movie, a television program.

Ref: In “The Vatican II Weekday Missal”, 1975, pp1288-9

Personal prayer: A confident dialogue with God

“Get up and pray that you may not enter into temptation.” (Lk 22:46) The Apostles had ignored the Lord’s command. He had left them close to himself so they would watch and pray, and thus not fall into temptation.

But even now they do not love him enough, and allowed themselves to be overcome by sleep and weakness. Sleep, the mental epitome of human weakness, has led to depression, a lack of piety.

If we maintain a living dialogue with God we will not fall into this situation during each period of prayer. We must use all the means available to do this mental prayer in a recollected way.

We should do it in the best place, depending on our circumstances; and whenever possible, in front of Our Lord in the tabernacle. Doing it at a set schedule is always best. ...

Prayer locates the soul in an environment of serenity and of peace, which then is transmitted to others. The joy it produces is a foretaste of happiness in heaven.

No one on this earth has known how to treat Jesus better than his Mother, Mary who spent long hours looking at him, speaking with him, handling him with simplicity and veneration.

If we turn to Our Mother in Heaven, we will learn quickly to confidently speak with Jesus, to follow him closely, very united to the Cross.

Ref: cf F Fernandez, “In Conversation with God”, 2:167-9

Our Lady of Divine Grace (“Carmel of St Therese of the Child Jesus Calendar 2002”)

Institution of the Order of Prémontré by St Norbert in the year 1120, after a revelation from Our Lady. — Bibliotheca Praemonstr., lib. i., c. 2. (“Catholic Gems or Treasures of the Church” Historical Calendar; http://www.bethlehemobserver.com); (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html);(www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html)

Order of Our Lady of Prémontré. Lancaster, England. 1120; following a revelation by Mary to St Norbert. Premonstratensians (Norbertines.) (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm)