Saturday of the Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time
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Today's Word
Lam 2:2, 10-14, 18-19; Mt 8:5-17 Read at USCCB
Real Talk
Lamentations is grief in raw form - the silence of God in the ruins, children dying in the streets, false prophets who said everything was fine. The instruction at the end: cry out to the Lord. Pour out your heart like water. Lift up your hands for the life of your children.
Then a centurion approaches Jesus - a Roman soldier, outsider to everything, with more faith than anyone Jesus has found in Israel. Lord, I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof. Just say the word and my servant will be healed. He understands authority: he gives orders and they are obeyed. He believes Jesus works the same way.
Jesus marvels. Says: I have not found such faith in all of Israel.
The outsider with the right understanding. Just say the word.
One Prayer
Lord, I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof. Only say the word. Sacred Heart of Jesus, I trust in you. Amen.
Your Challenge
Name the situation where you need the word to reach across the distance - the person, the healing, the situation you can't arrange. Approach with the centurion's posture: I am not worthy, but just say the word. Leave it with him.
You are not alone. Submit your intentions and they'll be carried to Holy Hour this Sunday.
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