This week we “fall back” by turning the clock back one hour. So too, in the New Roman Missal the Church “falls back” to texts translated from the former Missale Romanum. For those of you who can remember the Mass before the Vatican II changes came about, this response will be a familiar one. I remember thinking as a child, that I really didn’t want the Lord “under my roof." In my innocent mind, I pictured the Lord creeping into my attic and sitting there. My attic scared the daylights out of me enough already. But of course as the changes in the prayers came about I realized the silliness of my literal translation of “under my roof.”
“And Jesus went with them, but when he was only a short distance from the house, the centurion sent friends to tell him, ‘Lord, do not trouble yourself, for I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof. Therefore, I did not consider myself worthy to come to out; but say the word and let my servant be healed’” (Luke 7: 6-7).
Clearly you can see the words of the Communion Rite are taken directly from scripture. Jesus comes physically and spiritually into us - body, mind and soul. As we kneel in humble preparation for the banquet, inviting the Lord to come under our roof, let us use this time to reflect on His mercy, for it is only with His Word that we can be truly healed.
