“Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof but only say the word and my soul shall be healed.”

During every mass we say these words just before we receive communion. More than once I have been asked how this can be healthy for those who struggle with depression. After all, feelings of unworthiness have kept people in abusive relationships; caused people to succumb to the manipulations of others, and is a symptom of depression.

But feeling unworthy in a psychological sense is very different from believing ourselves unworthy in a spiritual sense.

Psychology is about me. It is about my mental health and how my mental health or illness affects my relationships. Spirituality is about relationship–we.

When we say, “Lord, I am not worthy” at mass we say it in faith that we are truly in relationship with–wow, God Himself! How could we ever be worthy of that? He is God! We are human!

So the next time you say, “Lord I am not worthy that you should come under my roof. Only say the word and my soul shall be healed” rejoice at the goodness, generosity, and unbelievable love of God. Be in awe and forget all about yourself!

It’s LORD, I am not worthy; not Lord, I am not worthy.

This post is a modification of a previous post.   — Picture by Maspetheer, 13 March 2016, Creative Commons.  Posting of this picture does not in any way suggest the author endorses HeathyCatholics or this post.