Learn more about our faith | Holy lives of inspiration
When you plan an appointment with someone, you prepare for it. This depends on the matter of discussion, the weight, urgency, and the required outcome. If something is of great importance, like a job interview or career decision, one needs to prepare thoroughly. That is why you select what to put on, what kind of make up if you use any, and even some may change the walking style, seating posture and how you are going to speak. You can imagine all these matters greatly even if they are for a short time until the meeting is finished.
Do We Get Ready Right?
Does meeting Jesus matter at all? Is there any need for any preparation? When we prepare for prayers or plan to attend mass we are making an appointment with God. Is it worthy of preparation? It is worthy of greater preparation. Now in this preparation, we are seeking help for several needs. In the Gospel today we see a humble faith approach of leper to Jesus. The first sequence of the words used are, “he came to Him...kneeling down...begged Him...and said...if you wish you can make me clean.”
Moving Towards God
The first word he came to Him...this indicates a motion...a transition or movement from one place to another. It can also mean movement of intellectual perception to another or spiritual enlightenment. However, before this happens there is something happening that calls for an action. In the story of the Merciful Father, the prodigal son made a journey back to the father, that involved both physical movement and spiritual movement.
The leper has to move to experience healing. Leprosy was a contagious disease and those suffering it were cast out of society. They were perceived as sinners. They moved to wilderness and when moving among other people they had to ring a bell to alert them, a sinner, a terrible cursed person is passing around, avoid him. It was a painful experience, but this leper with conviction made a move. In our spiritual life, we must make a move from what hindering us from meeting Jesus.
This could my laziness of prayer, personal attachment to things that I cannot experience God fully. It can be a personal ego or doubt of faith. It can be selfish with my gifts and talents. It can be anything, even illness or struggle with anger. However, I should not be comfortable. Make a move. Come to Jesus. Like the leper, we surrender these intentions or personal issues seeking healing in a very humble way.
Humbling Ourselves
The leper kneeled before Jesus. This was an act of worship and adoration. Do not be too shy to kneel, stand or sit before Jesus and ask for help. It's a way of acknowledging that the Holy One is before us, and all power and glory belong to Him. It is an act of faith and humility. Like the leper we approach Him not as worthy servants but unworthy servants and like Centurion, we usually utter these words, “Lord we are not worthy that you should enter into our hearts/house, but through your Word especially being made flesh in the Eucharist make us clean or may our souls be healed." So, in begging we acknowledge our frailty before God.
Submitting to God's Will
The prayer of the leper in our translation is “if you wish, you can make me clean.” If you wish meaning I belief you can make me clean, but I do not command you or force it. I am open to your will. It is saying let your will be done upon my situation. I am surrendering this intention/situation to you but answer it in your way and time. We see strong faith in this statement, whereby the leper trusts that Jesus will not fail to help out in such sickness. He will not fail to make him clean. We need to pray but also to give God space to act. This means I am willing to accept God’s response to my prayer even if not what I intended. Many times, when we pray to God, we need to be open minded to God’s response thus, we are likely to have much peace in our hearts than a having fixed response to our prayer.
We need God’s healing everyday of our lives. Let us approach Jesus with faith, humility and patience we will never regret it. We have two healing sacraments: Penance and the Anointing of the Sick. Sacrament of Reconciliation brings spiritual, emotional and psychological healing through forgiveness of our sins and Anointing of Sick gives us spiritual and physical healing. Jesus is always in our midst. “Lord, if you wish, make us clean.”
- Today’s Readings
- Father Joachim's inspirational homily was recorded live during Mass at the Father Peyton Center this morning. You can view the Mass (and the Rosary at the 30-minute mark) on the Family Rosary YouTube page.
- To join the Rosary and Mass Livestream, visit the Family Rosary YouTube or Facebook page at 11:30 a.m. Eastern, Monday – Friday. Consider inviting others to join, too! (*If you are not a member of Facebook and a signup window appears, simply select the X at the top of the pop-up message and continue to the livestream.)