June 27, 2026 // Saturday of the Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time // Optional Memorial of Saint Cyril of Alexandria, Bishop and Doctor of the Church

Read the Word // Open your Bible to today’s Gospel: Matthew 8:5-17

Reflect on the Word // 

Unworthy. That is the word that resonated with me most in the season that led up to my Easter welcome into the Catholic Church. I came to the Catholic faith a little later in life, when I was in my early thirties. I had two little boys who had already been baptized into the faith, but for many years I thought I was fine keeping to my Protestant roots. 

There was a hubris within me that for decades recognized that Jesus lived, suffered, and died for the salvation of my soul, and yet didn’t want to recognize the Church that He founded. I was happy to ignore the apostolic succession and honor instead the Protestant Christianity my parents had chosen for me. As an adult, I found myself free to choose the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic faith, and I felt unworthy of it all. But there was a paradox in this unworthiness. 

Like the centurion in today’s Gospel, I could see and acknowledge my own unworthiness and still accept the gift of grace and life He offered. 

We recall the centurion during each Mass when we recite our supplication: “Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed.” 

Jesus brings the necessary healing, and we need humility to implore not just His grace, but to answer His invitation to encounter Him in the Eucharist. We are all unworthy. And yet it is this very recognition that gives space in our hearts for greater union with Him. 

Our unworthiness is not because we are horrible people. There is no shame in our unworthiness. Our unworthiness is simply because He is so good. No level of human perfection could ever make us worthy of Him—of His sacrifice, of His love.

His love is not earned by the worthy; it is freely given to the contrite of heart who seek unity with His divine will. It is given to the soul that cries out to be healed. 

Relate to the Lord // Ask for the grace to receive the gift of His love.