“I will; be clean”

Meditation for Friday of the 12^th Week in Ordinary Time

(Gen 17:1, 9-10, 15-22; Mt 8:1-4)

Let us meditate briefly on the beautiful encounter between Jesus and the leper as given in today’s gospel. As Jesus stepped down from the mountain, a leper knelt before Him, saying, “Lord, if you will, you can make me clean.” Surprisingly, Jesus went against the religious and cultural practice of the time by stretching out His hand and touched the leper. He said to the man, “I will; be clean.” Immediately the man was cured. Think about that divine touch that healed the man; see that holy and spotless hand that left its imprint on the sore spots of the leperos man! The touch of Jesus was soft and gentle, silent and calm, yet it was firm and powerful, and transforming. It was a victorious touch that transformed the man. Once more, think about that courageous touch that defied all barriers and prejudices to remove the man’s shame…

 

Looking back on the story of Abraham, we read how God reassured Him of the promises and made a covenant with Abraham. As a mark of the covenant, God said to him, “Every male among you shall be circumcised.” The mark will be an imprint that would differentiate the chosen people of God, who would benefit from the covenant. This covenantal mark of ownership becomes a prefiguration of the indelible baptismal seal that will differentiate people of the new covenant. Through this mark we are qualified to receive the divine touch of Jesus, which He readily makes available for us through the Sacraments of the Church. The divine touch of Jesus brings in us such effects as exemplified in the leper.

 

Therefore, let us humble ourselves in adoration before Jesus, and present our needs and situations to Him by lifting up our hearts and minds to Him in prayer, saying, “Lord, if you will, you can make me clean.” He responds to us prompts with His words and action—form and matter—giving us a total and complete healing, saying, “I will; be clean.” Amen.  

 

Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R

Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church,

Tedi-Muwo, Ojo, Lagos.

Friday June 30, 2023.

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