Daily Gospel Reflection for December 2, 2024

Join us as we reflect, ponder, and pray together inspired by today's Gospel.

Today's Gospel: Matthew 8:5-11

I have a friend whose home was always immaculate, the kids well-behaved, and the chore charts completed. Mine, not so much. When she stopped by, I’d often step outside to visit with her on the front porch, ashamed of the mess inside.  

At Mass, before Communion, we pray, “Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed.” With all our messes, failures, and sins, we are not worthy of receiving our Lord. 

Because of our shame, many of us stay away from the Sacrament of Reconciliation or step aside from receiving Jesus in the Eucharist. But when we approach Jesus with honesty and humility, He willingly enters our souls through His healing sacraments.

A few years later, when home from the hospital with our sixth baby, this same friend stopped over. She stepped in, picked a path through the toys, and entered the family room where I was rocking the baby. The three older boys, all under six, were running circles around me as I rocked back and forth—paralyzed.

Without judgment or criticism, she handed me a cup of hot coffee, set the boys at the table with crayons and coloring books, picked up the mess, and washed the dishes. She then sat with me—and we talked and laughed. Her healing presence took away my shame and replaced it with love and acceptance.

During this Advent, may we invite Jesus’ healing presence into our souls to clean up the messes and take away our shame. May we confess with the centurion, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof; only say the word and my servant [I] shall be healed.”

Ponder:

When have you kept Jesus or others away because of your shame?

Pray:

Lord, may we have the strength to invite You into our souls. Please clean up our messes and take away our shame.

Copyright 2024 Mary Pedersen