Not Worthy to Be Under His Roof

I was in early adoration recently, and as I knelt for a while enjoying time with The Lord, an old friend came to mind.  I shall call him Joe for anonymity purposes, simply out of respect because were he to discover I wrote this about him, he would be upset due to the fact he is a humble man. Humble people avoid spotlights – unless it’s for God, such as Venerable Fulton Sheen.

Joe is a Protestant Christian who owns a trade business in a somewhat sketchy neighbourhood, and he sometimes walks the streets late at night to talk with addicts, the homeless and those who just can’t sleep; not so much to win converts for Jesus, but more so from the love of God in him towards his fellow man.

I worked for Joe a part of the summer years ago to enhance my job skills. We agreed to a short stint, due to the red tape in workers’ unions he lawfully abided by (cf, Rom 13:1).

Joe’s a married man and has a few children.  I was feeling far from home at this time and didn’t have many friends where I was staying.  Joe sensed this and invited me to dinner with his family at a local restaurant.  I had to hold back tears at one point amid such welcomeness and joy as we ate out together at the restaurant.

I saw Joe’s simple and great love for Jesus, and I decided to invite him to an Adoration chapel.  I spoke of John 54, Jesus’ dissertation on The Eucharist being His true Body and Blood for our salvation, and he listened attentively.  This chapel wasn’t too far from a Catholic University (which he respectfully spoke of), so it was frequented by parishioners, students and alumni alike.  There were usually quite a few people in there, even late at night.

Joe decided to take me up on the offer, and I drove us there.  I explained Catholic etiquette before the Eucharist, prior to us going in.

Joe Before Jesus

After parking, we walked into the basement main entrance down the stairwell, two by two.  To this day I wonder if his heart was burning within him for Jesus, as the disciples experienced on the road to Emmaus after the resurrection. cf, Luke 24:32.   As we passed through the empty grammar school cafeteria which doubled as a bingo hall (not found in Protestant Churches) we talked a little about what I cannot recall.  Then we came to the chapel door, adjoining the cafeteria.

As we entered, I could hear the AC fan blowing quietly.  The large candle by Jesus hung from the ceiling in a red glass jar – something foreign to him, did he wonder why?  Joe went straight for the kneeler in one of the empty seats in the two rows before Christ and bowed his head in adoration.  I mean, this man went into deep prayer… yes, “a Protestant” in prayer before Our Lord as The Host.  I sincerely believed – that he believed!  No game here.  No show.  Just an authentic man authentically worshipping Christ in spirit and in truth… for Our Lord… desireth just such worshippers as these.  cf, John 4:23

I am positive God was likely pleased with everyone’s prayers in that chapel that day.  But this…  this must have roused Christ Himself, who is seated in Heaven, to either reposition Himself upon his throne in glory or even perhaps to rise in joy, foreshadowing saying, “well done…” regarding Joe and his love for Christ, his family and God’s lost sheep; even if he has not stepped fully into the Catholic Church, he still is baptized and on fire for Christ!

As a former Presbyterian minister, who is now Catholic, Dr. Scott Hahn pointed out years ago in a conference on evangelization, “if evangelization were likened unto a card game, we as Catholics have a full deck (meaning all seven sacraments, the papacy, teachings of the Saints, etc.), and Protestants may not have the full deck, but they are using every card they got!  Meanwhile, Catholics are piddling around with a couple of Jokers!”  Paraphrased, I forgot the exact wording.

How many are panting for God and still unable to put a finger on their hunger for The Eucharist, just as Joe perceived Christ in the monstrance? (cf Psalm 42:1-2).

I saw much faith like the Centurion in the Bible that day; the Roman Centurion that asked Jesus to heal his servant, and astounded even Christ himself with his response, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you under my roof, only say the word and my servant shall be healed.” And Jesus hearing this, marveled and said to them that followed him: “Amen I say to you, I have not found so great faith in Israel.” cf Matt 8:8-10.