The Power of Words

And Jesus went with them, but when he was only a short distance from the house, the centurion sent friends to tell him, "Lord, do not trouble yourself, for I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof. Therefore, I did not consider myself worthy to come to you; but SAY THE WORD and let my servant be healed. (Luke 7:6-7)

Words can be incredibly powerful in our social interactions with others. People can use them to help, to heal, to hinder, to hurt, to harm, to humiliate, to divide. In this passage, Jesus sees the centurion’s faith and heals his servant. At the Communion Rite during Mass/Eucharist, we see the Priest genuflects, takes the host and, holding it slightly raised above the paten or above the chalice, while facing the people, says aloud:
“Behold the Lamb of God, behold him who takes away the sins of the world. Blessed are those called to the supper of the Lamb.” And all response: “Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed.”

The same kind of healing power is offered to us today, the same Mass, the same words, day after day, regardless of who says it or where it’s said, Christ himself is at work when Sacraments are celebrated.  "The sacraments are efficacious signs of grace, instituted by Christ and entrusted to the Church, by which divine life is dispensed to us. The visible rites by which the sacraments are celebrated signify and make present the graces proper to each sacrament." (Catechism of the Catholic Church, par. 1131)

What is the condition of your heart when you approach our Lord at the Eucharist?

Lord may I worthily receive you often so that my thoughts, words, and actions be holy as you are holy.

Prayer for the Help of the Holy Spirit
O God, send forth your Holy Spirit into my heart that I may perceive, into my mind that I may remember, and into my soul that I may meditate. Inspire me to speak with piety, holiness, tenderness and mercy. Teach, guide and direct my thoughts and senses from beginning to end. May your grace ever help and correct me, and may I be strengthened now with wisdom from on high, for the sake of your infinite mercy. Amen. (Catholic Online Prayer)

Peace in Christ,
Father Vincen-Vuong Nguyen