Friday, June 30, 2017
Today’s Gospel passage is
particularly powerful for those of us who are struggling in any way. Matthew is
very clear and succinct (Matthew 8:1-4). A leper approaches Jesus and pays him
homage and says to him, “Lord, if you wish, you can make me clean.” Jesus
stretches out his hand, touches the leper, and says, “I do will it. Be made
clean.” And the leper was cured immediately.
The leper stands for all of us
in this scene. Notice how Jesus answers the leper’s plea: I DO WILL IT. It
is Jesus’ will that we be healed, that we be made clean. We might not be
afflicted with leprosy, but isn’t it true that there is always something inside
of us that begs for cleansing or healing? Some internal struggle, perhaps, or
some weakness that plagues us?
I find that as the years go by,
every time I encounter this passage and take it to prayer, that there is some
particular issue in my life begging for resolution, healing, cleansing, that
becomes the focal point for my intimate interaction with Jesus. The subject, or
topic, of the prayer changes as the years go by, but there is always something
on my mind or in my heart that calls out for the reassurance and healing that
only Jesus Christ can give.
Notice that in response to the
leper’s plea, Jesus reaches out and touches him. This is a drastic move,
because in those days leprosy was a contagious disease and people were afraid
even to draw near to the lepers. Lepers were cast out from society and from
their families and friends, separated from everything they had known once the
disease had touched them. And yet, Jesus breaks the taboo and touches him, but
rather than Jesus getting invaded by the disease, it turns out to be the other
way around: the power and holiness and love of Jesus envelops the disease
itself and dissolves it in a loving embrace.
Can you picture Jesus reaching
out and touching you in that place where you are unclean or diseased, or weak,
or alienated, or scorned or wounded? As you pray to Him, picture Him reaching
out and touching you in that very tender and wounded part of your own
existence, and dare to hope that the pain of your own existence will be saturated
with the healing love of your Lord, Whom you approach in an intimate and
powerful way.
Like me, you will find that
whenever you read or hear this passage again, there will be something that you
will want Him to touch. And it is His will that you be touched, and cleansed,
and healed. That healing may not happen immediately as it does for the leper,
but the process of healing will have begun in you and He will bring it to
fulfillment at the time of His choosing.
God bless you,
The next reflection will be on July 5. Have a good weekend and if you
are an American, a good holiday as well.
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