Daily Gospel Reflection for June 25, 2016

Today's Gospel: Matthew 8, 5-17

Today’s Gospel features the words of an unnamed centurion: “Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof; but only speak the word, and my servant will be healed.” We may not know this centurion’s name, but his faith and his words live on every time the Mass is celebrated. We pray his prayer shortly before we receive Communion. The only difference is that we pray for our own healing. We know we are not worthy for Christ to enter our bodies (our roof) via the Eucharist, but He can heal us. He can wipe away our sins and all our faults.

This Gospel also shows Jesus healing Peter’s mother-in-law. (I always find it humorous that the first thing she did is get up and serve them. I think all mothers can relate!) Jesus then goes on to heal many who were sick both mentally and physically.

Jesus can heal us spiritually, mentally, and physically. Do we believe that? Granted, there are times we pray for healing and that specific healing does not come, but Jesus always provides the healing that we need. Sometimes it is a spiritual healing and the gift of grace to deal with a physical or mental ailment.

But there are other times when we don’t ask. For whatever reason, we are attached to our sin or to our illness. It can take courage to ask for healing. The next time you pray the centurion’s words, truly pray for healing – whatever healing you need. You may be surprised at the outcome.

Ponder:

Are you attached to some sin or physical ailment that you suffer from? What would it mean to be healed from that ailment?

Pray:

Dear God, please heal me in all the places in my soul, mind, and body that I need to be healed.

Copyright 2016 Patrice Fagnant-MacArthur
Patrice Fagnant-MacArthur is a life-long Roman Catholic, homeschooling mom of two boys and an adopted young girl. The editor of Today's Catholic Homeschooling, she is also the author of "The Catholic Baby Name Book" and "Letters to Mary from a Young Mother," and has a Master's Degree in Applied Theology. She blogs at http://spiritualwomanthoughts.blogspot.com