Homily – June 26, 2009 – Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time - Friday

Today we have a continuation in the first reading of the story of Abraham and his family. Isaac will indeed be born to Sarah his aged wife – no joke! And the one born of impatience, Ishmael, will be blessed by God – a strong nation will issue forth from him and his descendants, but they will not be the covenanted people of God: this will go as was promised to Abraham and Isaac and Jacob. Perhaps this is the bone of contention that still remains – and will remain in the Holy Land – unless both parties in the feud simply look at the facts from the beginning – and become reconciled to them!

The curing of the leper by Jesus with such great ease in the gospel passage shows how easy it is to bring about healing and peace and reconciliation: all it takes is faith in God and a willingness to be healed, be made peaceful and reconciled.

May we this day be people of the New Covenant of Christ's Blood – a covenant of looking out for other people first no matter who they are – family, friends or foe. This would please God very much – who looked out for us and our salvation when we were his foes!

Blessed are those who fear the Lord and walk in his ways!