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.
