Homily: December 4, 2023, Monday of the first week of Advent (Not worthy)

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 "Lord, I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof;

only say the word and my servant will be healed.”

This beautiful petition of a centurion, who was a non-Jew, has been used at Mass, in the liturgy of the Eucharist, right before all of us receive Holy communion.

Why? Why is the prayer of a Gentile given such prominence in our highest form of prayer to God? At such a critical moment just before we receive the miracle of the Blessed Sacrament?

Because the centurion’s response, is the perfect attitude all of us should have when we come before God. It shows utmost humility before the Lord, yet displays perfect confidence in Jesus’ compassionate authority.

We are not worthy, yet only one word from the Lord is enough for a miracle to happen.

And so, Jesus declares, “no one in Israel have I found such faith”.

Yes, as mere humans, we are frail, weak and sinful. But God is powerful, full of love and compassion. None of us are worthy for God but God does not ask for worthiness, He asks for faith and confidence in Him. None of us is good enough for God, but God is always perfectly good for us.

The centurion was a gentile, but he truly believed in the authority of Jesus without doubt. He knew he was a non-Jew and thus had no right to enjoy the same privilege as the Jews, but he understood the compassion of Jesus without shame.

Dear brothers and sisters, Jesus came not to call the righteous but the sinners. He already knows how messy and sinful our life is. He is just waiting for us to realize and admit our sinfulness, which is the cause of our troubles – physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually.

In recognizing our unworthiness, we recognize His authority over our sins. He has the power to cleanse us, heal us and restore us. Do we have the faith to ask for it?

Our world needs healing, we need healing. In this season of advent, let us ask and ask, humbly and confidently.

"Lord, I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof; only say the word and my soul shall be healed.”

Amen.


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Homily: September 20, 2026, Twenty-fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Come to my Vineyard)

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 “For since death came through man, the resurrection of the dead came also through man.” Sin and death are connected, but Christ has come to break that connection and give us life. In his Letter to the Romans, St. Paul says, “The wages of sin is death.” Sin separates us from God, and God is the source of life.  God created Adam and Eve for life and friendship with him. But through their disobedience, sin entered the world, and with sin came death.  But when God prepared the world for the coming of his Son, he gave Mary a unique grace. From the first moment of her conception, she was preserved from original sin.  We can see Mary as the new Eve. Eve was created without sin, but she disobeyed God. Mary, by God's grace, responded differently. When the angel came to her, she said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” Eve's disobedience was connected with humanity's fall. Mary's obedience opened the door for Christ, the Savi...
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 “Feed your belly and fill your stomach with this scroll I am giving you.” Ezekiel tells us, “I ate it, and it was as sweet as honey in my mouth.” Sweet as honey! Is that really how we experience the Word of God? For many of us, the Word of God can actually be very challenging. It corrects us, directs our conduct, and forms us in Christian discipline. Beginning with the Ten Commandments, we hear many “You shall nots.” Do not do this. Do not do that. Forgive your enemies. Love those who hurt you. Be faithful. Be honest. Carry your cross. Deny yourself. Sometimes God's Word may feel less like honey and more like medicine—something good for us, but not always pleasant to take. So was Ezekiel simply using beautiful symbolic language when he said that God's Word was sweet as honey? Our responsorial psalm today tells us the same thing: “In the way of your decrees I rejoice.” “How sweet to my taste is your promise!” And again, “The law of your mouth is to me more precious than thousan...
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