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Gospel Reading for 28 June 2024 – Matthew 8: 1-4
GREAT FAITH
When Jesus came down from the mountain, great crowds followed him. And then a leper approached, did him homage, and said, “Lord, if you wish, you can make me clean.” He stretched out his hand, touched him, and said, “I will do it. Be made clean.” His leprosy was cleansed immediately. Then Jesus said to him, “See that you tell no one, but go show yourself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses prescribed, that will be proof for them.”
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During Jesus’ time, the life of a leper was truly miserable. You were not allowed to go near people and you had to ring a bell and shout “Unclean, unclean!” when people come to your area. Perhaps, in desperation, the leper approached Jesus. He was so sure that Jesus would not drive him away and would heal him. He was rewarded for his GREAT FAITH.
Then, look at Jesus, he TOUCHED the leper who was not allowed to go near people. It was easy to just say “Be made clean” without touching him. He had power, anyway. This is Jesus, Son of God. St. Paul’s description of Jesus in Philippians 2: 6-9 is truly apt: “. . . though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God something to be grasped. Rather, he emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, coming in human likeness; and found human in appearance, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross.”
If we have the faith of the leper, we can be healed of diseases, we can be cleansed of our sins. And, we can be very sure that Jesus would be so willing to heal and cleanse us. This is our great God!
Lord, cleanse us of our illnesses, most especially the illness of our souls!
