INTRODUCTION
Jesus heals us physically and spiritually. We pray for healing of our body and soul. We trust that God hears those prayers and answers every prayer in the way that is best for us and others. All prayers are heard and answered. Trust in Jesus!
SCRIPTURE
MATTHEW 8:1-3 Cleansing of a Leper.
When Jesus came down from the mountain, great crowds followed him. 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.
REFLECTION
I am reminded of St. Francis of Assisi and his encounter with a leper. In Francis’ day a leper had to ring a bell and shout, “Unclean.” As Francis saw the leper approach his first reaction was horror, then he remembered the resolve he made to attain perfection. Francis dismounted his horse, kissed the leper, and gave him alms.
When he had remounted, he saw no one. Filled with joy, Francis fell on his knees to thank God and made a firm resolution to gain even further perfection. In this decisive moment of illumination Francis suddenly perceived in this leper the embodiment of God’s beauty, a human being to be loved and cared for tenderly.
I would like to call attention to the Leper’s request of Jesus. Lord, if you wish, you can make me clean.” The Leper recognized Jesus’ power and authority but assumed nothing. “If you wish” Let us follow the Leper’s example, Not my will but thy will be done!
SCRIPTURE
MATTHEW 8:6-13 Curing of Centurion’s servant
When he entered Capernaum, a centurion approached him and appealed to him, saying, “Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, suffering dreadfully.” He said to him, “I will come and cure him.”
The centurion said in reply, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof; only say the word and my servant will be healed. For I too am a person subject to authority, with soldiers subject to me. And I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come here,’ and he comes…
When Jesus heard this, he was amazed and said to those following him, “Amen, I say to you, in no one in Israel have I found such faith….And Jesus said to the centurion, “You may go; as you have believed, let it be done for you.” And at that very hour (his) servant was healed.
REFLECTION
The first thing I am struck by is this Centurion, a Roman and pagan, asking Jesus to cure his servant. What kind of actual grace was going on here that the Centurion recognized Jesus’ authority? Also, take note that the centurion was asking aid for another. We all can pray for others beyond ourselves.
Jesus responds, “I will come and cure him.” The centurion said in reply, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof; only say the word and my servant will be healed. The faith the centurion expressed here is brought forward into our Mass prior to receiving Holy Communion. I am reminded that our salvation is totally dependent on God’s mercy. I am not worthy but God in His mercy saves me and you too!
Jesus reminds us that FAITH can move mountains. Jesus says to the Centurion, “You may go; as you have believed, let it be done for you.” If only we had that faith and trust in God! “But when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?” LUKE 18:7
SCRIPTURE
MATTHEW 8:26-34 Healing of the Gadarene Demoniacs.
When he came to the other side, to the territory of the Gadarenes, two demoniacs who were coming from the tombs met him. They were so savage that no one could travel by that road. They cried out, “What have you to do with us,* Son of God? Have you come here to torment us before the appointed time?” Some distance away a herd of many swine was feeding.*
The demons pleaded with him, “If you drive us out, send us into the herd of swine.” And he said to them, “Go then!” They came out and entered the swine, and the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the sea where they drowned. The swineherds ran away, and when they came to the town they reported everything, including what had happened to the demoniacs. Thereupon the whole town came out to meet Jesus, and when they saw him they begged him to leave their district.
REFLECTION
This Scripture demonstrates both physical and spiritual healing. The two demoniacs cry out to Jesus, “What have you to do with us,* Son of God? Have you come here to torment us before the appointed time? Even those possessed had some insight into Jesus. They seemed to have some sense of Jesus’ hour when he would crush the head of Satan and set His people free. Can those possessed in sin see Jesus better than those of faith?
The demons pleaded with him, “If you drive us out, send us into the herd of swine.” And he said to them, “Go then!” The swine then ran over the cliff to their death. Be careful what you ask of Jesus! What irony that those possessed by the devil cooperate in their own destruction. I guess that’s how sin works with us if we don’t repent and return to God. Sin will eventually lead to spiritual death!
The swine herders went into town to tell all the townspeople what just happened. They all came out and begged Jesus to go! Those townspeople blinded by their possessions and attachments miss the will of God to set them free. Unfortunately, Jesus could do no more there. Let it not be so for us! Cling to Jesus!