Tag: worthy

I Am Not Worthy of You

Jesus said to his apostles:
“Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me,
and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me;
and whoever does not take up his cross
and follow after me is not worthy of me.
Whoever finds his life will lose it,
and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.
Whoever receives you receives me,
and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.
Whoever receives a prophet because he is a prophet
will receive a prophet’s reward,
and whoever receives a righteous man
because he is a righteous man
will receive a righteous man’s reward.
And whoever gives only a cup of cold water
to one of these little ones to drink
because the little one is a disciple—
amen, I say to you, he will surely not lose his reward.”

Matthew 10:37-42

To the tune NON DIGNUS (“O Lord, I Am Not Worthy”):

I am not worthy of you,
O Son of God Most High,
so little do I love you
while seeking my own life.

To love a son or daughter,
this I know how to do,
or give a cup of water
to one who thirsts like you,

but how to love you better
than life or self or kin:
Forgive me, Lord, this failure,
this race I cannot win.

And let me still draw near you,
unworthy as I am,
through those whose love reveals you,
O Christ, the Son of Man.

And let me still receive you
in all that you have sent,
still long for and believe you
in word and sacrament.

O Christ, let me accept you
in any cross I bear.
My love is imperfection,
yet let me still draw near.

Mattia preti a mother entrusts her children to christ065948) By Mattia Preti – https://onlineonly.christies.com/s/old-master-paintings-sculpture-online/mattia-preti-taverna-1613-1699-valletta-183/156486, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=120834817

Turning Over

The centurion said in reply, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof; only say the word and my servant will be healed.

Matthew 8:8
I am nothing made for greatness;
I will never be the first,
yet I cannot help but crave it
with a deep and piercing thirst.
Do you want this?  Can you save it?
Or is such a hunger cursed?

When you came to turn the tables,
when you upset all our scales
with your kingdom built of stables
and your throne of wood and nails,
did you come for the unable?
Did you save the heart that fails?

Show me, Lord, your turning over
where you treasure all that's least;
how you draw our dying closer,
bringing us to heaven's feast;
how you come to save the lowest
with a love that will not cease.

Teach me, then, to love my weakness
if it brings you to my side;
even so to love my seeking,
love the failures of my pride
if they draw me to your keeping,
loved as your unruly child.
Jesus and the centurion in Capernaum (Matthew 8:5), miniature, de:Codex Egberti, Trier, Stadtbibliothek, cod. 24, fol. 22r, detail Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=10204508