Daily Thoughts: At times when I
hear or read certain Gospel stories I think wouldn’t it be great if Jesus could
do that today! In today’s story (Matt 8:1-4) Jesus encounters a leper. Leprosy
in Jesus’ time made people outcasts. They were disconnected from the community.
They had to keep their distance. They were relegated to living in community
with only other lepers. They were not to touch or be touched by others. They
were seen as unclean.
However the leper in the Gospel story
has the courage to approach Jesus and for that courage he is rewarded with a
healing. He is made clean so that he can live once again within the community.
Jesus heals by touching, by crossing the boundary of culture, society and
religion. Jesus deals with the person as a human being created in the image and
likeness of God.
I guess my point is that in our day
there are many people who probably feel like the lepers of Jesus’ time. People
who are looked upon as unclean, who are looked upon as not part of the
community. People who are looked upon by culture, society and especially
religion as misfits, who are often are excluded. Wouldn’t it be great if Jesus
were here today and like that day long ago as he came down from the mountain he
would stop and talk with them, touch them, perhaps embracement and make them
feel like a person again accepted, loved not feared.
Making someone clean has many
connotations some positive, some negative. Making someone clean presumes that
they are unclean. Was the leper of Jesus’ day really unclean? Are people in our
time really unclean? Asking Jesus to make those that culture, society and
religion often see as unclean, clean, might not mean curing them of some
disease or condition, it might simply mean clearing the way, stepping across
the boundary and changing the attitudes that will allow them to feel accepted,
to feel they belong.
“Lord if you wish, you can make us
clean.” Stretch out your hand today and will it!
Have a great day everyone!
Daily Prayer: Jesus, our
benevolent friend, at every moment of our existence you are present to us. You
are our loving Savior who is gentle and compassionate. Reach out your healing
hand and touch us today. Help us to step beyond the boundaries of what divides
and excludes like you. Help us to be present to one another so that our presence,
like your presence, may be a strength that heals the wounds of time, and give
hope to all people. We make this prayer through the grace of your compassion
and love. Amen! (Adapt from a Healing
Prayer by the monks at Weston Priory)
A Runner’s Thoughts: Let us run in
the present moment, not from something and not to something. Let us strive for
a grace-filled run and well as a graceful run. Run today not for time but fore
grace. Run with God! (Adapted from Roger Joslin – Running the Spiritual Path)
Daily Blessing: Friday
greetings and blessings to everyone! I hope your week has gone well and that
you are looking forward to a little rest and relaxation over the weekend. I am
enjoying a nice relaxing day with my brother and his family just north of
Chicago. We are headed to Lake Geneva in Wisconsin today for a little lunch and
hopefully a nice boat ride around the lake. Tomorrow I head to Manitowoc, WI to
begin a sister’s retreat on Sunday so I am glad to have this nice relaxing
Friday.
Have a great Friday everyone! May it be
blessed with family and friends, laughter, fun, joy, rest and relaxation. May
you and those you love be safe everywhere you go and in everything you do. Peace in Christ’s Passion…Fr. Paul
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