Thursday After Ash Wednesday

Psalm 54. 5-13
Cast thy care upon the Lord, and He shall sustain thee. When I cried to the Lord, He heard my voice from them that draw near to me.

The Gospel reading for today is St. Matthew 8. 5-13, the story of the Roman centurion whose servant lies ill at home, grievously tormented. The centurion beseeches Jesus to heal his servant, and Jesus agrees, whereupon the centurion makes an answer very familiar to Catholics.

"Lord, I am not worthy that Thou shouldst enter under my roof: but only say the word and my servant shall be healed."

From my Navarre study Bible:
"Centurion": an officer of the Roman army in control of one hundred men. This man's faith is still an example to us. At the solemn moment when a Christian is about to receive Jesus in the Blessed Eucharist, the Church's liturgy places on his lips and in his heart these words of the centurion, to enliven his faith: "Lord, I am not worthy...".

The Jews of this time regarded any Jew who entered a Gentile's house as contracting legal impurity (cf. Jn 19:28; Acts 11: 2-3). This centurion has the deference not to place Jesus in an embarrassing position in the eyes of his fellow Israelites. He shows that he is convinced that Jesus has power over disease and illness; he suggests that if Jesus just says the word, he will do what is needed without having actually to visit the house; he is reasoning, in a simple, logical way, on the basis of his own professional experience. Jesus avails of this meeting with a Gentile believer to make a solemn prophecy to the effect that his Gospel is addressed to the world at large; all men, of every nation and race, of every age and condition, are called to follow Christ.

Collect for today:
O God, who by sin art offended and by penance appeased, mercifully regard the prayers of Thy suppliant people; and turn aside the scourges of Thine anger, which we deserve for our sins. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, who liveth and reignest with Thee and Thy Holy Spirit, now and forever.
Amen †