Make Me Clean

June 27, 2008
Friday of the Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time

And then a leper approached, did him homage, and said, “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

Piety

Jesus, we often want to see ourselves in your shoes when we read today’s Gospel --- standing up and serving those you send to us in need. How often are we in the role of the leper and do not even know it?

Help me to approach you and ask of you the most audacious things in the world. Stretch out your hand and touch me granting my prayer borne out of faithful piety, personal knowledge of you as my savior, and healing love that only you can provide. Amen.

Study
http://www.usccb.org/nab/readings/062708.shtml

It would be an understatement to say that the leper in today’s Gospel has a “moment close to Christ.” Yet in these four simple lines, we have the essence of the Cursillo experience.

First, the leper expresses his faith in Christ. Yesterday, Jesus told us that blessed is the one how hears the word of God and acts upon it. The leper becomes the leaper…jumping up to approach Christ in faith and ask for aid. The leper clearly acts as if one who built his house upon rock. Yet as one who was shunned and banished from being with society, how much courage must he have shown just to approach Jesus – the Messiah who also would find himself shunned, banished from society and left to die on the cross at Golgotha.

Second, the leper shows us that through faith, he truly has come to know Jesus. He did not need years of study, a degree from a fancy divinity school, or anything of the sort. Based upon his faith, the leper had come to know Jesus well enough not to fear approaching him with the biggest request of all.

Finally, the faithfulness and knowledge pays off. The daring approach that the leper makes to Christ is met by an equally daring response. This Messiah who preached “Do to others whatever you would have them do to you” now shows exactly what he meant in those words. He takes the Gospel from being something that is said to something that is done. Jesus does not leave it up to others to do the work. He does exactly what he asks us to do…love others.

How easy it would be to love our own family and the neighbors on our street. Yet Jesus takes this man – cruelly afflicted by this disfiguring disease, and shows us how to be totally at ease in his presence.

How shocking must the disciples have been to hear Jesus say, “I will do it.” Rather than send the man off for ritually purification, Jesus accepts him as he is – a good and faithful servant who has risked all to approach his Lord.

And the prayer is not granted in time...eventaully. The prayer request is granted IMMEDIATELY. God does not hesitate to act when we approach with a humble heart filled with faith like the leper in today's story.

The twist here is how the man responds to Jesus’ command. Jesus instructs him to tell no one what has happened. Yet in the tellingf this story, just the opposite occurs. Everyone learns how Jesus changes the man’s life. This encounter paves the way for a new church built upon three pillars – 1) faithfulness rooted in personal piety, 2) intimate knowledge of God established through right relationships and study, and 3) action that turns words herd into deeds acted upon. This encounter paves the way for the life of a cursillista.

Action

Jesus doesn’t always ask us to do the easy things in life. Occasionally, he sends a leper our way. Who is the leper facing you? Or are you the leper needing healing?

My leper is fear. And a prime example of that fear is expressed in two words: prison ministry. I know that many people in our church provide marvelous witness and service inside jails and prisons. Yet because of some irrational fear, I have never joined in that special service.

Another set of lepers that Jesus sends to face me are the homeless men and woman who stand every day on the street outside my office. How often do I drive into the garage or walk past them into the building without acknowledging their presence. Today’s Gospel is screaming for me to stop and say, “I will serve them” rather than hide, protected in my cocoon.

Who is the leper facing you? What healing do you seek?