... that you should enter under my roof...

.
I'm sure by now you have all heard about the upcoming changes to the words we use during Mass. If not, go check out this page, and if you still have some questions, you'll most likely find them answered here.
One of the changes occurs in our response to the Invitation to Communion. Instead of saying

"Lord, I am not worthy to receive you, but only say the word, and I shall be healed."

we now say

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

At first glance it just sounds more cumbersome. Yes, the new prayer more closely reflects the words of the faithful Centurion in Luke 7, but we are not saying them asking Christ to come heal our servant, we are saying them right before we receive Him in Communion. So wouldn't "to receive you" be a better fit?

Looking at the source in Luke 7:1-10, the most obvious reason for putting the Centurion's words into the liturgy at all, is of course his great faith. Not only does he believe that Jesus can heal his servant, the Centurion is absolutely convinced that one little word from Jesus, even from afar, will do and heal his servant. By attributing this kind of authority to him, he acknowledges Him as master and completely subjects himself to Him, like we all are called to do.

The same story is also told in Matthew 8, but here the Centurion actually meets with Jesus, while in Luke 7 he only sends messengers to Jesus. Obviously I can not make a statement as to which version is the "correct" one, but Luke's story speaks to me in particular. Here, the Centurion has never physically met Jesus, he only heard about Him and the elders of the Jews are the intermediaries. That doesn't change his faith in Jesus though. His faith is indeed so great, that he doesn't even need Him to enter under his roof, when Jesus is on His way.

What does that mean for us, especially during Mass? I don't know about you, but I'm one of those cradle Catholics who doesn't have many (or any, really) angels-singing-in-the-sky, light-shining-brighter, the-voice-of-God-speaking moments in my life. So sometimes I find myself thinking wistfully "Oh how much stronger my faith would be if only I could have some sign of God's presence". But look what the Centurion did. His faith was so great that he consciously passed up Jesus's physical presence, because he didn't deem it necessary for God's power to work for him. And sure enough, it really wasn't necessary. The miracle happened anyway.

I'm looking forward to being reminded of this in the new liturgy of the Mass, so I know I don't have to be disappointed when nothing more happens after Communion than the wafer dissolving in my mouth and when the choirs of angels remain unheard by my ears once again. God is there, and even when I'm not receiving Him under my roof, it only takes one word from Him to heal my soul.