Mass Readings and Meditations “The Word Among Us” Friday, 10 January
2014
Meditation: Luke 5: Jesus Cleanses a Leper
12 Once, when he was in one of the cities, there was a man
covered with leprosy.[a] When he saw Jesus, he bowed with his face to the
ground and begged him, “Lord, if you choose, you can make me clean.” 13 Then
Jesus[b] stretched out his hand, touched him, and said, “I do choose. Be made
clean.” Immediately the leprosy[c] left him. 14 And he ordered him to tell no
one. “Go,” he said, “and show yourself to the priest, and, as Moses commanded,
make an offering for your cleansing, for a testimony to them.” 15 But now more
than ever the word about Jesus[d] spread abroad; many crowds would gather to
hear him and to be cured of their diseases. 16 But he would withdraw to
deserted places and pray.
Footnotes:
a. Luke 5:12 The terms leper and leprosy can refer to several
diseases
b. Luke 5:13 Gk he
c. Luke 5:13 The terms leper and leprosy can refer to several
diseases
d. Luke 5:15 Gk him
Christmas Weekday
Lord, if you wish, you can make me clean. (Luke 5:12)
To be an outcast, banished from society, must be a disastrous
experience. Can you even imagine what it would be like to be told, “You don’t
belong here anymore”? Yet this was the lot of those afflicted with skin
diseases like leprosy in the time of Jesus. Having to live outside of town,
these people were deprived of friends, family, and even religious observance.
And this was on top of the physical suffering and decay of their diseases.
We can see one result of this devastating experience in today’s
Gospel reading. The leprous man had no doubt heard talk of this young rabbi, of
his ability and disposition to heal, of his kindness to those cast out by
society. So when he had the chance to meet Jesus, he knew just what to do. He
prostrated himself and proclaimed that he knew Jesus was able to heal him. He
knew what he needed, he knew Jesus could help him, and he wasn’t about to miss
his chance.
Praise God, his hope was not disappointed! While the people
around Jesus may have cringed or turned away, Jesus didn’t hesitate. No, he
reached out and touched the man, even though he was “full of leprosy” (Luke
5:12). He seems to be saying, “Of course I want to heal you. That’s why I’m
here!” In that moment, Jesus gave back to the man all that he had lost: his
health, his home, his family, and his right to worship at the Temple. It didn’t
take convincing, bargaining, pleading, or perseverance. With one simple cry to
Jesus, he was healed!
How about us? We all have the disease of sin, and it threatens
to isolate us just as much as that skin disease isolated the man in today’s
Gospel passage. But remember Jesus’ response to him: “I do will it. Be made
clean” (Luke 5:13). This is how he sees us when we come to him in the Sacrament
of Reconciliation. “Of course I’ll forgive you!” He is always willing to touch
us, to heal us, and to bring us back to our Father. So no matter how “leprous”
your sin may make you feel, throw yourself at Jesus’ feet. You won’t be
disappointed.
“Lord, teach me my need for you. Help me to put myself fully in
your hands.” Amen!
Psalm 147: 12 Praise the Lord, O Jerusalem!
Praise your God, O
Zion!
13 For he strengthens the bars of your gates;
he blesses your
children within you.
14 He grants peace[a] within your borders;
he fills you with the
finest of wheat.
15 He sends out his command to the earth;
his word runs swiftly.
Footnotes:
a. Psalm 147:14 Or prosperity
19 He declares his word to Jacob,
his statutes and
ordinances to Israel.
20 He has not dealt thus with any other nation;
they do not know his
ordinances.
Praise the Lord!
1 John 5: 5 Who is it that conquers the world but the one who believes
that Jesus is the Son of God?
Testimony concerning the Son of God
6 This is the one who came by water and blood, Jesus Christ, not
with the water only but with the water and the blood. And the Spirit is the one
that testifies, for the Spirit is the truth. 7 There are three that testify:[a]
8 the Spirit and the water and the blood, and these three agree. 9 If we
receive human testimony, the testimony of God is greater; for this is the
testimony of God that he has testified to his Son. 10 Those who believe in the
Son of God have the testimony in their hearts. Those who do not believe in
God[b] have made him a liar by not believing in the testimony that God has
given concerning his Son. 11 And this is the testimony: God gave us eternal
life, and this life is in his Son. 12 Whoever has the Son has life; whoever
does not have the Son of God does not have life.
Epilogue
13 I write these things to you who believe in the name of the
Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life.
Footnotes:
a. 1 John 5:7 A few other authorities read (with variations) 7
There are three that testify in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy
Spirit, and these three are one. 8 And there are three that testify on earth:
b. 1 John 5:10 Other ancient authorities read in the Son
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