+ Today in our first reading we see how Israel was beaten by
the Philistines: even with the ark of the Lord present, the Philistines were
victorious: they did not become the slaves of the Israelites. Israel then cries
out: “Woe to us! This has never happened before! Who can now deliver us from
the power of the gods of these heathens? Why has the Lord permitted us to be
defeated?”
The leper in the Gospel
passage probably asked himself the same question. “Woe to me! I am captive to
the gods of sickness and disease! Why do the gods, even this God of Jesus,
permit me to be defeated by this wretched condition?” A very good question as
well.
But if he had not been
“defeated” by leprosy, he never would have attracted the attention and pity of
Jesus. “Our woe and oppression” disposes us to God’s mercy and healing.”
It is vital for us to remember
this overarching spiritual principle: Jesus
did not come to save “well people” – but sick ones - those on whom he can show
his greatest attribute of all – his MERCY.
In reality, in God’s eyes, we
are all sick, we are all dis-eased, we all have conditions and proclivities
that make us less than what he would have us be – we are all in need of his
mercy! So why deny it?
It is up to us therefore to
ASK, simply ask, humbly and sincerely, for his mercy and compassion – and it
will be instantaneously given – though its effects may take some time to play
out in our history.
“If you wish, you can make me
clean, Lord Christ! Moved with pity, Jesus stretches out his hand to us and
says “I do will it! Be made clean! Be healed!”
And after our healing for a
particular misery, in our case, Jesus wants us to proclaim the healing quite
freely – so that everyone can experience the overwhelming generosity and love
of God’s healing touch!
Redeem
us, Lord, because of your mercy.
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