In truth, I tell you, in no one in Israel have I found faith as great as this.

Two instances are recorded during Jesus’ ministry where he was astonished—once at the lack of faith demonstrated in his hometown and the other in today’s gospel. As a result of the former, there were no great miracles on that day, and in the latter, amazed at the soldier’s great faith and humility, Jesus was empowered to do possibly one of his greatest for one of the least, a servant of a Roman.

How often do worry, anxiety, and stress paralyze us? Sometimes, we hold on to pain, believing it’s inevitable, that we deserve it, and aren’t worthy of Jesus’ attention and intervention. During Mass, we repeat the centurion’s words before receiving Jesus in the Eucharist: Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word, and my soul shall be healed. This is a moment where we can lift our pain and fears and, with childlike faith, allow Christ to heal us by receiving him into our bodily home and becoming a living host.

The mystery of our faith is wrapped in this affirmative Eucharistic prayer and spiritual-physical exchange. Christ conquered death so that we can live and be continuously molded, transformed, and resurrected into the body of Christ.

Instead of being afraid of pain and suffering, we can view these seasons as an opportunity to go to Jesus and experience his healing love, a foreshadowing of what we all will experience once we unite with him in the kingdom he has prepared for us. Peter Julian Eymard said, “The Eucharist is the supreme proof of the love of Jesus. After this, there is nothing more but Heaven itself.”

Let Us Pray:

Father, in the name of Jesus, I ask you to open my eyes to any hidden areas of fear in my life. Lord, your word says faith comes by hearing the word of God, and I will build up my faith today by reading your word and acting on it.