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Gospel: Mark 1: 40-45
A leper came to him and kneeling down begged him and said,
“If you wish, you can make me clean.”
Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand,
touched the leper, and said to him,
“I do will it. Be made clean.”
The leprosy left him immediately, and he was made clean.
Then, warning him sternly, he dismissed him at once.
Then he said to him, “See that you tell no one anything,
but go, show yourself to the priest
and offer for your cleansing what Moses prescribed;
that will be proof for them.”
The man went away and began to publicize the whole matter.
He spread the report abroad
so that it was impossible for Jesus to enter a town openly.
He remained outside in deserted places,
and people kept coming to him from everywhere.
The Gospel of the Lord.
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A few weeks ago, a parishioner approached me asking to be given the Sacrament of Anointing, which is reserved for those who are either sick, gravely ill, or near the point of death.
First and foremost, the Sacrament offers the forgiveness of sins. Then there’s an optional prayer for physical healing, which is sometimes granted.
In this person’s case, cancer was growing inside her lungs. So, I anointed her, prayed for healing, and awaited the results of her next scan.
Last week, she called me in tears saying that the cancer had disappeared! The doctors had no medical explanation, but we knew it was an act of the Holy Spirit.
She’s shared this miraculous story of healing with many people since.
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The same type of miracle unfolds in today’s Gospel.
A man is slowly dying from leprosy. His skin is covered in boils and sores, leaving him physically and socially isolated from others.
Suddenly, Jesus passes by. So, the man rushes over, kneels down at his feet, and says to Jesus, “If you wish, you can make me clean.”
So, Jesus does what no one else would – he touches him.
Then he does what no one else can – he heals him.
This man is so elated that he tells everyone! In fact, he tells so many people that Jesus cannot enter another town; he has to remain in deserted places because so many people are coming to him.
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Our mission at St. Pius X is to create opportunities for people to experience that love and healing of Jesus. For example, we will celebrate a Mass of Anointing on February 11, the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes at 11 am.
Come pray with us. Invite a friend. Perhaps the Lord will grant the healing you seek.
Whenever he does, be like person in the Gospel – tell others to “come and see.”
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Image credits: (1) Bruce Gerenscer (2) Ridge Kids Family Connections, WordPress (3) healingourbrokenness.com, Pinterest