I am not worthy

"Lord I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed."

Take a second to think about this. As Catholics we say this phrase at mass, when we are preparing for communion. This is the newest translation of this phrase, and the one we use today. Not too long ago the phrase was "Lord I am not worthy to receive you, but only say the word and I shall be healed."

When I was little (and using the old translation) I used to think that it meant if my body wasn't well, it would be healed when I received the Eucharist. "Only say the word and I shall be healed." I thought "Lord if you say the word...whatever that word is...I won't be sick anymore. If you say that word Lord, I'll be all good. If I am sick my body isn't good enough so you can say the word and fix that."

What a silly little girl I was. Jesus doesn't mind if we are sick!

I like the new translation of the phrase.  "I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof..."

At first I was like...what am I now, a house? I just wasn't sure that I liked this new translation even though it was closer to the original wording. Why does my roof matter?

Think about your life. We are all sinners, as unfortunate as that is, it's true. Our lives are messy! Now think about a house. It could be clean, but it is natural for a house to get messy sometimes. Would you want to have a visit from God if your house was messy? I know I wouldn't! I would spend the whole visit apologizing for the mess and trying to secretly clean as we went. Maybe if we ate I would was a few more dishes than we used and hope He didn't notice.

Now if your life is a house, and sin is clutter and mess, dust and filth, would you want God to come into a messy house? We admit in this phrase that we sin; that we are messy. No matter how hard I try, I know there is sinful clutter in my life. I am a sinner, God is, well, God. I am not worthy that that should receive the body, blood, soul, and divinity of Jesus Christ, my perfect savior, into my own body and life. 

"...but only say the word and my soul shall be healed." 

I like the new emphasis on my soul, in fact I have unintentionally gained the habit of putting emphasis on these words when I say the phrase at mass. This is where I was confused as a child. What is being healed? Your soul.

Christ can heal you! He can help you fight the temptations in your life. With just His word He can save you. Christ can help you clear out that clutter, that sin, that filth, those things standing in the way of you spending time with God. By saying this phrase we are asking for this help; for this healing. 

So when you put the two parts back together...

"Lord I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed."

...you are saying "Christ I am a sinner, I fill my life with sin and give into temptation, but with your help, my soul will be clean."

Think about it the next time you are at mass. Don't just say the words, pray them. Talk to God and ask him for help!