The Catholic Calendar for Saturday, July 1, 2006
Twelfth Saturday in Ordinary Time

Blessed Juniper Serra, priest and religious

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Lamentations 2:2, 10-14, 18-19
Psalm 74:1b-2, 3-5, 6-7, 20-21
Matthew 8:5-17

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

"Lord, I am not worthy . . . "

Because the centurion lived in the time before the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, his words have a special relevance to the time. Today, while still true, they are modified to some extent because we are made worthy by His love and by the indwelling Holy Spirit.

Thus it is still true that by myself and without His help, I am not worthy to receive the Lord; however, because He sent us a special advocate, a comforter, a special aide to grace in the person of the Holy Spirit, I am made worthy by His worthiness.

When we say, "Lord, I am not worthy," in Mass, we are speaking a fundamental truth. Alone we are nothing, nothing but the dust to which we shall return. But His love makes us lovable, and His worthiness makes each of us worthy.

So, each time we say in Mass, "Lord, I am not worthy to receive you, but only say the word and I shall be healed," we can be absolutely certain of the truth of it. We shall be healed and that healing shall make us worthy to be received under His roof. If we are unworthy to receive Him, then how much more unworthy are we to be received by Him? Except – He loves us and His love makes us worthy. Always remember, by myself – unworthy and faulty; with Him – a daughter or son by adoption and made worthy.

Praise God for this great gift, brought forth from the death and resurrection of Jesus and from the love of the Father and Son. The comforter, the healer, the Paraclete, the companion, the one who teaches us the words to seek – the Holy Spirit of God, third person of the Blessed Trinity, indwelling spirit of Love.

- JuandelaCruz
(sriddle415 at yahoo dot com)