I Am Not Worthy

Where We Are

Monday of the Twenty-Fourth Week in Ordinary Time. The evangelist Luke tells the story of the centurion's servant, which we heard earlier in Matthew's version. Luke adds distinctive details: the centurion sends Jewish elders as intermediaries, and they plead his case by noting that he loves Israel and built their synagogue. The encounter reveals a faith that transcends ethnic boundaries. Paul addresses the Corinthian community's disorderly worship at the Lord's Supper.

The Word

A centurion's servant is dying. He sends Jewish elders to Jesus, who say: "He is worthy. For he loves our nation, and he himself has built a synagogue for us." Jesus goes with them, but before he arrives, the centurion sends friends with a message: "Lord, do not trouble yourself, for I am not worthy for you to enter under my roof. But say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I also am a man placed under authority" (Luke 7:6-8). Jesus is amazed: "I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel." The servant is healed.

Today's Full Readings

First Reading — 1 Corinthians 11:17-26, 33

Responsorial Psalm — Psalm 40:7-8, 8-9, 10, 17

Gospel — Luke 7:1-10

Read the full Scripture text

Continue Reading

Sign in to read the full devotional and receive it in your inbox each morning - a quiet moment of reflection to start your day.

Send me the daily devotional by email each morning

By signing in, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service.

Reflect

Luke's version reveals an interesting tension. The Jewish elders say the centurion is worthy: he loves Israel, he built a synagogue, he is a good man. But the centurion says he is not worthy. Both are true in different senses. By human measures, his generosity qualifies him. By divine standards, he knows he falls short.

The centurion's faith is remarkable precisely because of his self-understanding. He is a man of authority who recognizes a greater authority. He does not need Jesus to come physically; he trusts that Jesus's word alone has power. "Say the word" is the prayer of someone who understands that divine authority operates differently from human authority.

Paul's teaching about the Lord's Supper connects directly. "Lord, I am not worthy for you to enter under my roof" is the prayer Catholics pray before Communion, adapted from this centurion's words. Every time we receive the Eucharist, we echo the faith of a Roman soldier who knew he was unworthy and received healing anyway.

Jesus's amazement at Gentile faith is a recurring theme. The kingdom of God is not limited by ethnic or religious boundaries. Faith can be found in the most unexpected people, and its absence can be found in the most religious.

Living It

Pray the centurion's prayer today: "Lord, I am not worthy, but only say the word." These are the words the Church places on our lips before every Communion. Bring your unworthiness honestly to Christ and trust his word to heal what you cannot reach on your own.

Reflect on who advocates for you, as the Jewish elders advocated for the centurion before Jesus. Thank those who have spoken on your behalf, who have carried your name in prayer or put in a good word when you were not in the room. Be an advocate for someone today.

Look for faith in unexpected places. The centurion was an outsider, a Roman soldier, who believed more deeply than the insiders of Israel. Who in your life demonstrates faith that surprises you? Learn from them.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, we are not worthy for you to enter under our roof. But say the word, and our souls shall be healed. Give us the centurion's faith: confident in your authority, humble about our standing, and trusting that your word alone is enough. Heal what is sick in us today. Amen.

Today's reflection draws from Luke 7:1-10 and 1 Corinthians 11:17-26, 33 (CPDV), per the Ordo Lectionum Missae.