Pastor's Reflection - October 25, 2026

A Healing Encounter At The Altar

Recently, someone shared that one of their favorite moments of the Mass comes just before receiving Holy Communion, when we recall the words of the centurion: “Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof; but only say the word and my servant shall be healed.” In the Mass, we make those words our own: “Only say the word and my soul shall be healed.”

We should always remember that we are not worthy and that salvation is God’s free gift (see Ephesians 2:8). What a beautiful truth to recognize: we cannot earn our salvation. Pondering this gift leads us to a life of gratitude and inspires us to proclaim God’s marvelous deeds.

Though we are unworthy, God, in His infinite mercy, invites us to come forward and receive Jesus—Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity. How beautiful it is to know that Jesus is not afraid to draw near to us. He wants to heal us from our sins.

This life-changing encounter can happen every time we gather for Mass. We need only be present to the Lord, who is always present to us, and strive to set aside the distractions and doubts that so often trouble us.

Jesus is our Divine Physician, and we are all in need of His merciful love and healing power.

I’d like to share again a passage from In Sine Jesu that I mentioned several weeks ago. It speaks beautifully of this reality and of what the Mass is truly about:

In Christ,

Fr. James Northrop, Pastor