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The Christmas Cycle
In Holy Communion we await the coming of this same God. Although He does not
come to us to assume a human nature, as He did when He came to dwell in the breast of
Mary, He is nevertheless the same holy, eternal, and mighty God. Though we cannot duplicate
the spotless holiness of Mary, we nevertheless have the obligation of making our hearts
as pure and spotless as possible. But, alas, how great is the difference between our heart and
Mary’s heart! How far from the holiness and purity of the Virgin of Nazareth! When we
reflect upon the matter, we must confess with the centurion: “Lord, I am not worthy that
Thou shouldst enter under my roof.” My mind is tainted with unclean thoughts; my will
seeks what is displeasing to Thee; my desires are imperfect and degraded. In my service of
Thee I have been guilty of countless acts of infidelity. My soul is utterly unworthy of the
sanctity of Him who is about to enter it.
“But only say the word, and my soul shall be healed.” In spite of our unworthiness
we lift our eyes to Christ. We have faith in His love, and we trust in His mercy. “Have
mercy on me, O God, according to Thy great mercy; and according to the multitude of
Thy tender mercies blot out my iniquity” (Ps 50:3). As a final preparation for the coming
of the most holy One, we repeat the Confiteor and beg the Virgin Mother, the apostles,
and the saints to intercede for us.
In the Mass we have also asked the priest to intercede for us, and through him the
Church has given us assurance of the forgiveness of our sins. The Lord has promised to
hear the prayer of His Church, and our soul has been healed. The way is now opened for
the coming of the divine King. “May the body of our Lord Jesus Christ keep thy soul unto
life everlasting.” So great is Christ’s love for us that He Himself has prepared our soul as He
prepared His virgin mother. The better the preparation we make for His coming, the more
fruitful His grace will be in us.
“Lord, I am not worthy.” Like the centurion of the Gospel, we feel that our very unworthiness
gives us a special claim to His grace and mercy. Christ marveled at the faith of the centurion,
and turning to His disciples said, “Amen, I say to you, I have not found so great faith in Israel.”
It was not the state of the man’s soul so much as his great faith that moved the Lord to help him.
“Go, and as thou hast believed, be it done to thee.”
“Lord, I am not worthy.” To receive Holy Communion with greater profit, we should be
conscious of our own unworthiness. We know that in spite of our unworthiness Christ came to
call, not the just, but sinners. The best proximate preparation for the reception of the Eucharist
is a faith and confidence similar to that of the Roman centurion. With the centurion we ask
no questions, for we are convinced that Christ has only to say the word and our soul shall be
healed. We should dwell less upon our own unworthiness than upon His great goodness and
mercy. A good act of faith includes all the other acts of preparation that are required. “Only say
the word, and my soul shall be healed.”
Prayer
Almighty and eternal God, graciously look upon our infirmity and stretch forth the right hand
of Thy majesty to protect us. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
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