Christian Counseling Certification : Not Worthy That You Should Come Under My Roof
The faith of the centurion was the greatest faith that Christ had witnessed in all of Israel. Upon meeting our Lord and begging for a cure of his servant, his faith was illuminated by the mere words, “merely say the word”. He did not require that our Lord should come to his home, nor grace his unworthiness by entering his lowly home, but his faith only required Our Lord’s word of healing. His humility and faith earned him the cure he so desperately sought for his servant.
Christian Counselors should try to cultivate such faith in their spiritual children. Our faith in God’s love for us should be so strong that it does not require visions, heavenly visits or spiritual favors. The words of Our Lord should be enough, as they were for the centurion.
Liturgical Application of the Centurian’s Faith
In Catholicism and maybe some denominations of Protestantism, the centurion’s faith is memorialized before communion, when the faithful recite, “Lord I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word, and my soul shall be healed”. This phrase reiterates one’s faith and humility before reception of the Eucharist. It acknowledges one’s unworthiness but also one’s faith that Christ can spiritually and physically heal our weaknesses.
While all who are baptized are infused with the gift of faith, we still must cultivate it on this earth. This supernatural virtue will cease to exist in the next life when our faith is realized, but in the meantime, we need to strengthen it with ferventacts of faith, as the centurion did.
If you are interested in Christian Counseling Courses, please review the program. Our Christian Counseling Certification is granted to qualified professionals who complete the required course work.
Mark Moran, MA