A Gospel Reflection for Sunday, February 12, 2006

A reflection on the Scripture readings for Sunday, February 12. 2006. Through these readings we learn about two key messages: how through his miracles Jesus' role as the Messiah begins to be known to the people and about how to lovingly and humbly we can exercise our faith for health and unity. In both messages we have one constant: the loving response of our Savior to heal and save.

Leprosy was a terrible and contagious disease, one that required people to leave the city walls and leave in isolation, announcing their presence to others by yelling "unclean, unclean!" But leprosy was also viewed as a punishment for these people's sins. It was a clear indication that they had offended God and a warning to others of the consequences of sinning. Healing from leprosy was associated with the coming of the Messiah. Only God could forgive sins, the supposed cause of leprosy. Therefore, this showed that Jesus was more than a wonder worker or a powerful prophet. This began to show Jesus as the Son of God. The understanding of this truth would come about slowly and not really sink in until after the passion and resurrection.

In terms of exercising our faith, the leper gives us a beautiful example on how to approach Jesus with our requests for healing, cleansing, and forgiving: after kneeling down he said, "If you wish, you can make me clean.” Somewhere I read that the most powerful and effective prayers for healing are those that emphasize, "if it is your will." Of course Jesus has the power and the love and compassion to heal us, but we acknowledge that there are things beyond our comprehension, there are mysteries to living, and it may not be His will. Through this short prayer, the leper showed absolute confidence and faith in the healing hand of Jesus, but he did not assume that this was for granted. He approached Jesus with complete faith and humility. Jesus responded in kind. To his "if you wish" Jesus responded with "I do will it," to the leper's "you can make me clean" Jesus responded with "be made clean." Simple, powerful, Divine...

How well do I do this? Do I get on my knees and with absolute faith, humility, and simplicity and say if you wish, you can heal me, you can forgive me, you can cleanse my sadness, my worries, my fears, my pain... If you wish, you can cleanse me so that I may return and be whole with the community. I don't want my thoughts and actions to be yelling "unclean, unclean!" Instead, I want my life to be a testimony to God's love. Like St. Paul said in the second reading, "Brothers and sisters, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God." I can only do this through the cleansing and powerful grace of God. Lord, if you wish, make me clean!

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Comments

[Lorna]

hi Hector. Some good thoughts here. (as usual)

one thing though - the OT does have other instances of healings of leprosy - yet they were not done by the Messiah, the son of God. Also the NT speaks of the disciples healing the sick too. In all these instances it is the power of God (as today) so I'm not quite sure what you are saying here.

let's have some more !

[Argent]

Hector,

I, too, was struck by the Eucharistic prefigurement in this healing. Jesus touched an ritually unclean man, therefore becoming unclean himself...foreshadowing the Cross, Christ taking on the world's brokenness and sin.

In a marvelous way, this miracle shows the Incarnation Mystery...starts unfolding it. God is present among us in our brokenness. He touches us and heals our sick bodies and integrates us to ourselves, bringing wholeness.

I love how we echo this "If you will, you can make me clean" in the Mass: "Lord, I am not worthy to receive you, but only say the word and I shall be healed."

~~Hope you're staying warm. Is it snowing where you are?

[Hector]

Hi Lorna, you are right that there were healings before, but healings, particularly of lepers, were associated with the coming of the Messiah. From Mark 11:5, " Jesus said to them in reply, "Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind regain their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have the good news proclaimed to them." The footnote for this passage says "Jesus' response is taken from passages of Isaiah (Isaiah 26:19; 29:18-19; 35:5-6; 61:1) that picture the time of salvation as marked by deeds such as those that Jesus is doing." I may be wrong on this, but that is how I understood the healing of lepers.

[Hector]

Argent, it is also snowing here. Not bad on a sleepy Sunday. It's been a warm winter, so some snow is not that bad...