Lord, I am not worthy to have you under my roof…only say the word...These are a set of words that we repeat each and every time that we gather for a Eucharistic celebration. That they are included in such a central liturgical act speaks volumes about their weight. Perhaps we have come to say the words as a matter of habit so much so that we have forgotten to say them as if we were saying them for the first time, or as if we were saying them with the centurion from whom they have come to us. For they are such a weighty set of words that shouldn't be said by one who doesn't mean them. Although they might appear as a set of words said by one who has realized his/her unworthiness, his/her sinfulness, they are a statement of faith. We don't know what prompted the centurion to utter the words. Perhaps it was the urgency of the matter. His servant’s life was in danger and he could afford the luxury of waiting for Jesus to show up when it best suited him. He might have heard from others how Jesus’ journey was always interrupted by men and women who wanted to be attended to. Perhaps it was who/what the centurion was: if he were a non-Jew, it might be that he didn't want to be ridiculed for stooping so low as to ask the help of a Jewish rabbi; and if he were a Jew, he didn't want to be ridiculed by fellow Jews for resorting to this roadside rabbi for help. Whatever his reason, Jesus saw in him a deep, trusting faith. He might not have subscribed to Jesus' religious ideals, but he knew that Jesus had the power to give him the help that he needed. It was a demonstration of a trusting faith on his part that won him the admiration of Jesus. Whenever we repeat the above words at Mass, we do so in recognition of our unworthiness to have Jesus dwell in our hearts. However, the unworthiness that is meant is not limited to our sinfulness. It is our recognition that there is nothing that we can do or say that can make us “earn” Jesus’ presence to us. Jesus comes to us despite our sins. He comes to our aid despite our shortcomings. When we receive the body of Christ at Mass, it is not because we have been good during the week. We repeat those words of the centurion, not to implore Jesus to come to us, but rather as an act of thanksgiving. In a sense, we are telling Jesus that we are grateful for him being present to us.