Friday after the Epiphany, January 10, 2025

Reflection on the WORD

“Messiah as Healer” – Faith: In today’s Gospel, Jesus willingly cured the man who was covered with a skin-disease; when he begged Him to cure him. Ponder on, “Jesus cures us of our illnesses, and desires that our relationship with Him become deeper and more personal. Do we merely seek Jesus for help but not deepen our relationship with Him?”

Luke 5:12-16

Jesus was in one of the towns when suddenly a man appeared, covered with a skin-disease. Seeing Jesus he fell on his face and implored him saying, ‘Sir, if you are willing you can cleanse me.’ He stretched out his hand, and touched him saying, ‘I am willing. Be cleansed.’ At once the skin-disease left him. 

He ordered him to tell no one, ‘But go and show yourself to the priest and make the offering for your cleansing just as Moses prescribed, as evidence to them.’ But the news of him kept spreading, and large crowds would gather to hear him and to have their illnesses cured, but he would go off to some deserted place and pray.

Today's Pointers on God's Word

As you read the passage what words, phases or meanings caught your attention?

  • The man in today’s Gospel begged Jesus to cure him from his skin-disease of leprosy.  Jesus reached out to touch him and risked contacting the disease. He went against the Jewish laws of keeping a distance from lepers.
  • Jesus’ love for us is often shown through His compassion that is total and unconditional. How Christ-like are our compassion towards others who need it from us e. g. the poor and needy that come to us for help? 
  • Pray to Jesus and reach out to Him with the strong faith like that of the leper.  For with Jesus by our side, nothing is impossible.