Q: At Mass when we say the phrase, “Lord I am not worthy to receive you, but only say the word and I shall be healed”, what is “the word?

That phrase, which we say before going forward to receive the Lord’s Body and Blood in the Eucharist, is based on the passage in the Gospel of Matthew, when the Roman Centurion approaches Christ in search of healing for one of his men.

The centurion said in reply, "Lord, I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof; only say the word and my servant will be healed.” – Matthew 8:8

Many Biblical scholars and theologians have theorized over what “the word” is…

I like to think of it this way: Jesus, Himself, is THE Word made flesh.

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” - John 1:1

“And the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us, and we saw his glory, the glory as of the Father's only Son, full of grace and truth.” - John 1:14

It’s kind of like us saying to God, “Hey God, I’m totally a sinner, and I am so undeserving to have your true presence dwell in me. I can’t even fathom how good and merciful you are though, and my teeny-tiny brain cannot comprehend how awesome you are…so, Lord, just say the word and I’ll come forward and receive you in faith, and stop trying to understand what I cannot understand.”

Basically, it’s an expression, like when someone says to their boss, “Just say the word, boss, and I’ll take care of it”.

Interestingly, this really is a powerful story, one which is often overlooked in Scripture. Christ offers to go and see the sick soldier, but the Centurion in an incredible sign of humility and faith responds to the Lord by saying that he is not worthy to have Christ even enter his home, further proclaiming that Christ is powerful enough to heal the man without even physically touching him.

Jesus rewarded that outward sign of humility by healing the sick person of his affliction.

Even though earlier in Mass we ask forgiveness for our venial sins, during the Confiteor (when we say “I confess to Almighty God, and to you my brothers and sisters…”), saying the above scriptural phrase prior to going forward for Communion is a wonderful outward sign of humility by us (the sick ones, the sinners) asking Christ to enter our home (our body) and heal our soul, preparing it to hold the Risen Christ in His Eucharistic sacrifice.

I hope this helped…great question, keep them coming.

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