Gospel
Luke 5:12-16
'If you want to, you can cure me'
Jesus was in one of the towns when a man appeared, covered with leprosy. Seeing Jesus he fell on his face and implored him. ‘Sir,’ he said ‘if you want to, you can cure me.’ Jesus stretched out his hand, touched him and said, ‘Of course I want to! Be cured!’ And the leprosy left him at once. He ordered him to tell no one, ‘But go and show yourself to the priest and make the offering for your healing as Moses prescribed it, as evidence for them.’
His reputation continued to grow, and large crowds would gather to hear him and to have their sickness cured, but he would always go off to some place where he could be alone and pray.
Reflection
In Luke 5:12-16, the leper’s simple faith stands out: “If you want to, you can cure me.” Jesus answers with compassionate action—he does not hesitate, but reaches out, touches, and declares, “Be cured.” The leper’s request is not a grand faith statement; it is honest and personal. Jesus honours that honesty with healing, reminding us that God’s mercy meets us where we are, in our vulnerability, even when social boundaries and personal fears surround us.
Notice also the tension in Jesus’ response: He heals and then instructs the man to follow the Mosaic command to show himself to the priest and offer the healing sacrifice. The miracle is not merely a private cure; it becomes a public sign of restoration and a testament to God at work in everyday life. Yet Jesus also withdraws to solitary places to pray, modeling steady balance—ministry with fervor, and renewal through prayer.
Reflection
- Do I bring my vulnerability to Jesus with honesty, trusting in his willingness to heal or restore, even when I cannot see the way forward?
- How do I respond when healing comes—do I share the source of life with others, or keep the moment private?
Prayer
Loving God, we thank You for Your compassionate reach toward us, especially in moments of vulnerability. Help us to bring our deepest needs to You with honesty, trusting in Your power to heal and restore.
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