Reaching Out

The WORD today (See http://usccb.org/bible/readings/010915.cfm) reminds me how personal Jesus is that he reaches out to each one of us.

In the gospel, we see Jesus healing a leper. Aside from Jesus healing him, what got into me is that he stretched out his hand and touched the leper. He did not heal from a distance. He was and still is a personal God.

Lepers are unclean at that time, so no one touches them so as not to be unclean as well. But Jesus broke this. He makes all things new. His touching the leper did not make him unclean, but healed and cleaned the leper. It is a good reminder that no matter how unclean or dirty you are, it will not stop Jesus from reaching out to you. He will still heal you if you allow him.

May we always remember how merciful, loving and powerful Jesus is, and may we have faith like the leper who believed God can heal us no matter what our situation is.

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for the reminder how merciful, loving, personal and powerful you are. Thank you for not judging me. Help me have faith in you like the leper, that despite the situation he is in, had full faith in you. Help me also to be like you to others. May I be personal as I try to help out and reach out to others, and not be contented with helping from a distance. Amen.

Blessed day!

In Christ,

-g-

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January 9, 2015

Friday after Epiphany

Lectionary: 216

Reading 1 1 Jn 5:5-13

Beloved:Who indeed is the victor over the world

but the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

This is the one who came through water and Blood, Jesus Christ,

not by water alone, but by water and Blood.

The Spirit is the one who testifies,

and the Spirit is truth.

So there are three who testify,

the Spirit, the water, and the Blood,

and the three are of one accord.

If we accept human testimony,

the testimony of God is surely greater.

Now the testimony of God is this,

that he has testified on behalf of his Son.

Whoever believes in the Son of God

has this testimony within himself.

Whoever does not believe God has made him a liar

by not believing the testimony God has given about his Son.

And this is the testimony:

God gave us eternal life,

and this life is in his Son.

Whoever possesses the Son has life;

whoever does not possess the Son of God does not have life.

I write these things to you so that you may know

that you have eternal life,

you who believe in the name of the Son of God.

Responsorial Psalm

PS 147:12-13, 14-15, 19-20R. (12a) Praise the Lord, Jerusalem.

or:

R. Alleluia.

Glorify the LORD, O Jerusalem;

praise your God, O Zion.

For he has strengthened the bars of your gates;

he has blessed your children within you.

R. Praise the Lord, Jerusalem.

or:

R. Alleluia.

He has granted peace in your borders;

with the best of wheat he fills you.

He sends forth his command to the earth;

swiftly runs his word!

R. Praise the Lord, Jerusalem.

or:

R. Alleluia.

He has proclaimed his word to Jacob,

his statutes and his ordinances to Israel.

He has not done thus for any other nation;

his ordinances he has not made known to them. Alleluia.

R. Praise the Lord, Jerusalem.

or:

R. Alleluia.

Alleluia See Mt 4:23R.

Alleluia, alleluia.

Jesus proclaimed the Gospel of the Kingdom

and cured every disease among the people.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel Lk 5:12-16

It happened that there was a man full of leprosy in one of the towns where Jesus was;

and when he saw Jesus,

he fell prostrate, pleaded with him, and said,

“Lord, if you wish, you can make me clean.”

Jesus stretched out his hand, touched him, and said,

“I do will it. Be made clean.”

And the leprosy left him immediately.

Then he ordered him not to tell anyone, but

“Go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing

what Moses prescribed; that will be proof for them.”

The report about him spread all the more,

and great crowds assembled to listen to him

and to be cured of their ailments,

but he would withdraw to deserted places to pray.