"'Lord, if you wish, you can make me clean.' He stretched out His hand, touched him, and said, 'I will do it. Be made clean.' His leprosy was cleansed immediately." - Matthew 8:2-3
There are things that happen in our lives that cause us to feel 'unclean' or unworthy, therefore we diagnose ourselves as an 'object' to avoid rather than someone to help. This was the case for those who contracted leprosy, except they were declared ritually unclean, excluded from the social and religious life in Israel, and were required to live in isolated communities. Maybe this is what our lives feel like at times, perhaps not physically but emotionally and spiritually. There is the need for great healing, healing only the Divine Physician can provide.
In today's Gospel, Jesus performs a miracle, without hesitation, by "stretching out His hand" to touch the leper and He simply says, "Be made clean." This would not be the case if the man did not ask for such healing, "Lord, if you wish, you can make me clean." Like the poor leper, let us ask the Divine Physician to heal our emotional and spiritual wounds. To take it a step further, let us ask for healing so that we can help others seek such healings.
What does the Lord need to heal within your life?
Heavenly Father, shine Your healing light into my life!
Reflection by:
Caleb Malec
Did You Know...
Caleb Malec is a first year college seminarian. St. Stephen's in Riverview is where he truly began to actively participate in a life with Christ. He loved to have fun with his family and friends, whether this was playing sports or going on adventures. Caleb was a missionary for two years, where the Lord stretched, pulled, strengthen and softened his heart through the sacraments and prayer!
Pray with us for the men and women discerning the priesthood and religious life. To pray for our seminarians by name or to find out more about the Diocese of St. Petersburg vocations office, click here
