FIRST READING
‘The Spirit, the water, and the blood. ”
A reading from the first Letter of Saint John (1 John 5:5-13)
Beloved: Who is it that overcomes the world but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? This is he who came by water and blood, Jesus Christ, not with the water only but with the water and the blood. And the Spirit is the witness, because the Spirit is the truth. There are three witnesses, the Spirit, the water, and the blood; and these three agree. If we receive the testimony of men, the testimony of God is greater; for this is the testimony of God that he has borne witness to his Son. He who believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself. He who does not believe God has made him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has borne to his Son. And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He who has the Son has life; he who has not the Son of God has not life. I write this to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life.
The word of the Lord.
RESPONSORIAL PSALM Psalm 147: 12- 13.14-15.19-20 (R. 12a)
R/. O Jerusalem, glorify the Lord!
Or Alleluia.
O Jerusalem, glorify the LORD!
O Sion, praise your God!
He has strengthened the bars of your gates;
he has blessed your children within you. R/.
He established peace on your borders;
he gives you your fill of finest wheat.
He sends out his word to the earth,
and swiftly runs his command. R/.
He reveals his word to Jacob;
to Israel, his decrees and judgements.
He has not dealt thus with other nations;
he has not taught them his judgements, R/.
ALLELUIA Matthew 4:23
Alleluia. Alleluia. Jesus was preaching the Gospel of the kingdom and healing every infirmity among the people. Alleluia.
GOSPEL
“And immediately the leprosy left him. ”
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke (Luke 5:12-1 6)
While Jesus was in one of the cities, there came a man full of leprosy; and when he saw Jesus, he fell on his face and begged him, “Lord, if you will, you can make me clean.” And he stretched out his hand, and touched him, saying, “I will; be clean.” And immediately the leprosy left him. And he charged him to tell no one; but “go and show yourself to the priest, and make an offering for your cleansing, as Moses commanded, for a proof to the people.” But so much the more the report went abroad concerning him; and great multitudes gathered to hear and to be healed of their infirmities. But he withdrew to the wilderness and prayed.
The Gospel of the Lord.
Today’s Reflection
Consider briefly the experience of the leper in the Gospel. According to the law, he is to be isolated from the people like an Ebola patient (Lev. 13:1 – 46) but he ignores the barrier and the associated stigma to approach Jesus. His story changes to a testimony. We may have different forms of leprosy today; it may be in the form of a grave sin that has kept us away from the sacraments for a long time. Jesus is not interested in what it is; he is only inviting you to come for perfect cleansing (Isa 1:18). Even if your case is worse than that of a leper, he is ready to make you fresher than a newborn. Approach him with faith and you shall overcome any situation (1 John 5:5).