the e-Testament
Mark 1: 40-45
A leper came to him, begging on his knees, “If you want to, you can cleanse me.”
Deeply moved, Jesus put out his hand, touched him, and said, “I want to. Be clean.” Then and there the leprosy was gone, his skin smooth and healthy. Jesus dismissed him with strict orders: “Say nothing to anyone. Take the offering for cleansing that Moses prescribed and present yourself to the priest. This will validate your healing to the people.” But as soon as the man was out of earshot, he told everyone he met what had happened, spreading the news all over town. So Jesus kept to out-of-the-way places, no longer able to move freely in and out of the city. But people found him, and came from all over.
Prayer
Lord
Give me faith that makes me reach out to you in my time of need. Give me the joy of feeling the impact of your healing touch, and fill my heart with a love and gratitude that will compel me to share it with all those I meet.
Amen
Reflection
There are so many strands to this Gospel. As I reflected on the words, I tried to put myself in the shoes of the leper. If it had been me, could I contain my joy and happiness if Jesus reached out, touched me and made me clean? I don’t think so. My life would be transformed, a whole new world be in front of me, a whole new life would open up for me - I would have to share it! My heart would be overflowing with joy and gratitude, and I would go out and share what had happened.
Yet how often has the Lord touched my life in this way? Answered my prayers? Turned things around for me? Filled my heart with joy?
Can I honestly say that I have gone out and shared that joy and happiness with others? Given the credit to Jesus in my life? Would people know by my reaction; my attitude to life, that something was different? Not always.
The challenge of this Gospel for me today is that in my turning to Jesus for healing, do I then share that Good News, that love of Christ that transforms my life with everyone I meet?
Gill McCambridge - Salesian Sister