Monday 1st week of Advent
"Mt 8:5-11"
The centurion said, "Lord, my servant is lying paralysed at home, in terrible distress." And he said to him, "I will come and heal him." But the centurion answered him, "Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof; but only say the word, and my servant will be healed..." When Jesus heard him, he marvelled, and said to those who followed him, "Truly, I say to you, not even in Israel have I found such faith."
Those words are repeated every day in Mass before Holy Communion as a reminder of the faith of this centurion and the faith with which we should approach and adore Our Lord really present in the Eucharist with His Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity. Our Lord praised the faith of that centurion... could he praise yours and mine?
During the Spanish Civil War Bl Álvaro del Portillo was sent to prison for being a Christian. Eventually he was released. With two friends, he decided to enlist in the army and get sent to the front in order to cross over into the safe part of the country. Miraculously, the three of them ended up in the same regiment, same battalion, same company, and same platoon! Knowing that they risked their lives, Bl Álvaro managed to get a few Consecrated Hosts that he kept in his wallet in order to receive Holy Communion. When night fell they went for a walk with the Eucharist to do a 'Visit to the Blessed Sacrament'. "We are living intensely the strength and truth of the Gospel story of the disciples of Emmaus: 'Were not our hearts burning as we walked with Him?'"
Before going to bed one of them went for a walk carrying the Blessed Sacrament away from possible profanity and blasphemies until everyone was asleep. On October 9 they walked 25 miles. "Uphill and downhill slopes..." Bl Álvaro continues, "turns to one side or other, canyons, stream, small ports, paths that lead nowhere, bushes that conceal men, shouting, wind, profanity, night noises, worn-out shoes. A Roman bridge? More. And even more. Stops, soldiers who are lost, boys who swear not to continue...And Our Lord with us; affection, trust, appreciation, mutual words of encouragement...What a long walk for the others! Yet how short is the hike for us!" How short is this stroll of life when we are with Our Lord.
Mary, Mother of the Eucharist, increase my faith!
