The reflection for today's readings can be found at http://usccb.org/bible/readings/062620.cfm
In our gospel for today
we hear of the healing of a person with leprosy. In other accounts of the Lord
healing lepers, He just commands them to be healed, and they are healed without
Him even touching them. But in today’s gospel our Lord reaches out and touches
the leper to bring healing. Jesus thought it necessary to reach out and bring not
only healing but comfort to this man in his illness.
Leprosy at the time of
Christ was incurable and anyone who had leprosy became shut out from family, friends,
and society. They had to keep what we would call today “social distance” from
everyone and cry out either “unclean” or “leper” for those nearby to know he
was coming. It was a lonely and desperate life. Further, by Jesus touching the
leper would have made him ritually unclean as well. But Jesus had compassion on
the leper and brought healing in a special and intimate way.
In order for this man to return to society and be accepted again, he needed to go to the priest and receive a “clean bill of health.” Further it proved that Jesus was not unclean as well. Jesus put the needs of the person ahead of what was expected of him by society.
In order for this man to return to society and be accepted again, he needed to go to the priest and receive a “clean bill of health.” Further it proved that Jesus was not unclean as well. Jesus put the needs of the person ahead of what was expected of him by society.
With all that is going
on today with COVID-19, our society needs that healing that can only come from
Jesus. There are health care workers at hospitals and nursing homes caring for
those who are positive with COVID-19. Our Lord is working through them to help
bring society the healing that we need. As Jesus touched the leper to bring
healing, he is working through the health care workers to bring healing to
those in our society that are in most need of healing. The main concern of
these doctors and nurses is the health and well being of those they are called
to serve. Jesus is working through them to bring peace, comfort, and healing. We, too, can reach out in
our own way to help society heal from COVID-19. The leper in the gospel today
prayed, “Lord, if you wish, you can make me clean.” We, too can pray a similar
prayer: “Lord, if you wish, you can cure us of this virus.” By our constant
prayers for those in our society that are suffering from the effects of this
virus, whether physically, emotionally, or financially, we are helping to bring
the healing touch of Jesus to our society.
Lord Jesus, touch us
and our society and grant us the healing that can only come from you. Amen.
Yes, very appropriate for our time. I love the prayer of the man with leprosy which both demonstrated great faith in Our LORD's ability & power to heal him without demanding or "claiming" or presuming what JESUS would do. God's healing is given at HIS sovereign will, in HIS way & in HIS time.
ReplyDeleteWith leprosy in the times that Our LORD JESUS walked the earth & with the coronavirus crisis in our time we have to tread the delicate fine line of protecting others & ourselves from the spread of disease vs providing love, compassion & healing. Our doctors, nurses & other health care workers, as well as priests & deacons who administer the sacraments to the sick have the greatest challenge & they, as well as the people who are sick, need our prayers.
Like the people with leprosy,even those of us who are healthy have had to experience isolation. We have to pray that the LORD will go with us with His healing love & protection as we slowly, gradually & cautiously emerge from our quarantine & help us to be able to remain spiritually connected & to be able to demonstrate our love & compassion to others in appropriate ways so that the necessary physical obstacles will not shut us off from one another.