Welcoming the Holy
Here we invite you to take time for yourself in personal prayer. The following spiritual reflection offers words and images which we hope will evoke for you an experience of God.
By: Sister Ruth Maier
“In Your goodness, O God, have mercy on us.”
Opening Prayer
Healing God, cleanse and restore us from the prejudice and discrimination by which we dishonor Your image in others.
Help us to stretch our loving hands with compassion to those in need – the alienated, the isolated, the stranger, that we may proclaim to others the wonders of Your tender mercy.
We make our prayer in Jesus name. Amen
Scripture
Mark 1:40-45
A leper came to Jesus and kneeling down begged him saying, “If You wish, You can make me clean,” Moved with pity, Jesus stretched out His hand, touched the man and said, “I do will it. Be made clean.” The leprosy left him immediately, and he was made clean. Then sternly warning the man, Jesus dismissed him at once.
Jesus said to him, “See that you tell no one anything, but go show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses prescribed; that will be proof for them.
The man went away and began to publicize the whole matter. He spread the report abroad so that it was impossible for Jesus to enter a town openly. Jesus remained outside in deserted places and people kept coming to Him from everywhere.
Reflection
The Book of Leviticus identifies the disease of leprosy and outlines the physical results of the disease. The Law of Moses designated specific restrictions for the purpose of preventing the spread of this communicable disease throughout the community.
So it is with hesitation and uncertainly that the Leper in today’s Gospel story approaches Jesus, “If You wish,” he says to Jesus, “You can make me clean.” “If You wish” … the Leper believes Jesus can cure him, but he realizes that in doing so there could be consequences for Jesus, therefore he may not wish to take that risk.
But there is no hesitation with Jesus. He immediately heals this leper. He not only stretches out his hand, He touches the man saying, “I do will it. Be made clean.”
In touching the leper, Jesus violates the established social norm of the time, but He shows us the depth of His compassion for the pain, as well as the faith of this man.
The leper gives us an example of how we should approach Jesus with faith, courage and humility knowing that Jesus is willing and able to make us clean, to make us whole, to transform our lives.
Likewise, Jesus calls each of us to demolish walls that separate us from each other. He calls us to welcome the stranger, the outcast, those on the margins of our society, to reach out and touch them with God’s love.
Who are the outcasts in my world?
Can I reach beyond the narrow circle of my family and friends to welcome the outcasts and strangers of our society.
How have I been touched by Jesus?
Closing Prayer
Jesus, healer and friend, give us courage, like this leper, to approach You even when we feel we have nothing to offer You.
Strengthen us to be quick to help not only those closest to us but us, but also the stranger, those we barely know, those in need of healing and love.
Lift us up to rejoice in Your goodness as You live and reign with God, the Father, in unity with the Holy Spirit. Amen.
