First reading 1 John 5:5-13
There are three witnesses: the Spirit and the water and the blood
Who can overcome the world?
Only the man who believes that Jesus is the Son of God:
Jesus Christ who came by water and blood,
not with water only,
but with water and blood;
with the Spirit as another witness –
since the Spirit is the truth –
so that there are three witnesses,
the Spirit, the water and the blood,
and all three of them agree.
We accept the testimony of human witnesses,
but God’s testimony is much greater,
and this is God’s testimony,
given as evidence for his Son.
Everybody who believes in the Son of God
has this testimony inside him;
and anyone who will not believe God
is making God out to be a liar,
because he has not trusted
the testimony God has given about his Son.
This is the testimony:
God has given us eternal life
and this life is in his Son;
anyone who has the Son has life,
anyone who does not have the Son does not have life.
I have written all this to you
so that you who believe in the name of the Son of God
may be sure that you have eternal life.
Responsorial Psalm 147:12-15,19-20
O praise the Lord, Jerusalem!
or
Alleluia!
O praise the Lord, Jerusalem!
Zion, praise your God!
He has strengthened the bars of your gates
he has blessed the children within you.
He established peace on your borders,
he feeds you with finest wheat.
He sends out his word to the earth
and swiftly runs his command.
He makes his word known to Jacob,
to Israel his laws and decrees.
He has not dealt thus with other nations;
he has not taught them his decrees.
Gospel Luke 5:12-16
‘If you want to, you can cure me’
Jesus was in one of the towns when a man appeared, covered with leprosy. Seeing Jesus he fell on his face and implored him. ‘Sir,’ he said ‘if you want to, you can cure me.’ Jesus stretched out his hand, touched him and said, ‘Of course I want to! Be cured!’ And the leprosy left him at once. He ordered him to tell no one, ‘But go and show yourself to the priest and make the offering for your healing as Moses prescribed it, as evidence for them.’
His reputation continued to grow, and large crowds would gather to hear him and to have their sickness cured, but he would always go off to some place where he could be alone and pray.
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Jesus’ compassion
During the time of Jesus, lepers were ostracised and viewed with fear. They were unable to live with their families or stay in their villages, as their condition was seen as a punishment from God. Consequently, they were regarded as outcasts by society. In today’s Gospel, Jesus encountered a leper who approached Him. The disciples and the crowd following Jesus would likely have been horrified and repulsed by the sight of the leper nearby. However, Jesus recognised a person in need of healing and acceptance. The leper said to Him, “Sir, if you want to, you can cure me.” In response, Jesus reached out, touched him, and immediately the man was restored to health.
Today, we are surrounded by many “lepers” in our lives. There are individuals whom our friends, family members, colleagues, and even we consider to be outcasts. These people may have questionable pasts, quirky or irritating habits, or personalities that we find unacceptable. As a result, we often choose to avoid working with, living with, or being friends with them. If Jesus were here among us today, how would He view our “lepers”? He invites us to see people through compassionate hearts and to love them, regardless of their circumstances.
Reflective question:
How can I reflect Jesus’ mission of love by reaching out to someone I find difficult to love and bring them hope, instead of excluding them?
Acknowledgment: Reflections are based on “Prayer for Living: The Word of God for Daily Prayer Year A” by Sr Maria Jose FMVD
