Saturday of the Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time

The centurion said in reply, "Lord, I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof; only say the word and my servant will be healed." When Jesus heard this, he was amazed and said to those following him, "Amen, I say to you, in no one in Israel have I found such faith." - Matthew 8:8, 10

The centurion astonished Jesus. That is not a small thing. The man had authority over soldiers - he knew what authority meant. He recognized it in Jesus completely and understood that the word of authority does not require physical presence to work. Just say the word.

I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof. He does not claim the right. He does not demand the visit. He recognizes the gap between himself and the one he is asking, and he asks anyway, from the right posture. The combination - I am not worthy, but just say the word - is the prayer of the man who knows both who he is and who he is talking to.

Truly in no one in Israel have I found such faith. The outsider's faith. The centurion had no covenant standing and more faith than the covenant people. The faith was not the result of the religious heritage. It was the result of the man seeing clearly.

I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof; only say the word. Name the situation where you need the word to reach - across the distance, into the place you cannot arrange. Approach with the centurion's posture: not claiming the right, not demanding the visit, but trusting the word's authority. And carry [name]: Lord, only say the word for him. Let the faith that astonishes you find him.

Lord, I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof. Only say the word. I understand authority enough to know you have it. Sacred Heart of Jesus, I trust in you. Amen.