“Lord, do not trouble yourself, for I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof; but say the word and let my servant be healed.” (Lk.7:6, 7)
So often we pray – or, actually recite this to you, O Lord, without realizing its beautiful meaning just before the Holy Communion. Like the Corinthians being reprimanded today by St. Paul in our first reading, we have become so individualistic that in forgetting those around us we have also disregarded your presence in our midst especially in the Holy Eucharist.
How sad when we eat, we simply fill our body with food and drinks, forgetting our souls to be nourished by the stories shared by those we dine with. In this world of fast-food, we have lost the beautiful meaning of every meal, of being together and sharing not only food but ourselves with the persons seated with us. Sometimes, we do not mind eating alone for as long as we have our most honored guests at the table, our smartphone or tablet. Worst, we do not even pray to you at all, Lord, unmindful of your goodness while we are busy taking pictures of our food, almost worshipping it as a god!
As we start our new week of work and studies, let us heed St. Paul’s call that when we come together to eat, we wait for one another like that centurion in the gospel who loved his slave so much, inviting Jesus to heal him even from afar. Amen. Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II, Parokya ng San Juan Apostol at Ebanghelista, Gov. F. Halili Ave., Bagbaguin, Sta. Maria, Bulacan 3022.
Photo from Google, “Hapag ng Pag-Asa” painting by the late Joey Velasco.
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