FRIDAY 26 JUNE
Matthew 8:1-4:
“A leper came to Jesus, knelt down and said to him, ‘Lord, if you wish, you can make me clean… He stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, “I wish to, be clean”. And immediately he was cleansed from leprosy.”
The leper in today’s Gospel does three things when he sees Jesus:
1: He approaches: despite the obstacles and impediments that a leper of that time had to overcome to approach any kind of person. He overcomes fear, shame. Faith gives him courage and strength.
2: He kneels: he recognizes his leprosy, his humiliation. He recognizes at the same time the power and mercy of Jesus that can heal him not only physically but also spiritually.
3: He asks and pleads: not with demands, but with great humility and trust. He asks for his healing if Jesus wants to give it to him.
And Jesus also does three things:
1: He speaks to him, points to him, draws him closer and picks him out: “Stretch out your hand”.
2: He answers with a “I want to”. And that wish of Jesus accomplishes the healing in the leper.
3: He touches him: the purity of Jesus is transmitted to the impurity of the leper and he is healed.
Come close to Jesus as the leper came close to him, and do not doubt that Jesus will also come close to you, answer you, and by touching you, all your “leprosy” will also be cleansed.
Good day.
Antonio Maria Sanjuan Marin, cmf
