Would You Invite Jesus Home for Dinner?

You’ve probably heard of the changes made by the Catholic Church to the Mass recently. The stated aim of these changes is to make the English translation of the Mass more like the original Latin text, and to better reflect the words of Jesus. Most changes don’t seem particularly important and if anything seem to make the words less natural. For example, when the Priest says at the beginning of the service , “The Lord be with you.” The congregation are now to reply, “And with your spirit” instead of the more natural, “And also with you.”

There is one change however that does give us some good opportunities to share the Gospel with friends and family this Christmas.

At a very important point in the Mass, just before Catholics receive Holy Communion, the congregation say, “Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof”, they used to say, “Lord, I am not worthy to receive you”. The reason given for this change is that these new words echo the words of the Centurion in Luke 7:6 and Matthew 8:8 who said, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof, but only say the word, and my servant will be healed”. This Centurion is commended by Jesus for his faith. He is not even a Jew, yet he trusts in Jesus’ power and authority more than all the Jews. However it is the faith of an outsider, a Gentile, not one of God’s chosen people. The Centurion recognises that as a Gentile, he is not worthy for a Jewish rabbi to come into his house as this would make the rabbi unclean.

In the Catholic Mass these words are said by baptised, confirmed Roman Catholics who have gone through extensive training before being allowed to participate in Holy Communion. Other Christians are even excluded from participating in this part of the service. In the Catholic Mass the words, “I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof” are said not by unbelievers but by those who are supposed to be closest to God. However in the Bible this is not the way Jesus encouraged his followers to approach God. In the Lord ’s Prayer Jesus tells his followers to say “Our Father in Heaven,” using the most intimate of words for Father – “Daddy”. Also Peter is rebuked for thinking of himself as unclean when Jesus washes the disciple’s feet. To read more, click here.