June 26 - “Lord, if you wish, you can make me clean .”

[MariaChristi]

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Today’s Gospel is brief but what a beautiful scene for us to ponder! Jesus in Matthew’s Gospel has just finished teaching the crowds in His Sermon on the Mount in chapters 5 - 7 and today we listen to Jesus in the beginning verses of Chapter 8 as He heals a leper:

Gospel (http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/062620.cfm)

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.
Then Jesus said to him, “See that you tell no one,
but go show yourself to the priest,
and offer the gift that Moses prescribed;
that will be proof for them.” (Mt 8:1-4)

The Church’s liturgy links the First Reading to the Gospel and usually the Responsorial Psalm helps us to understand also the connection between the Old and New Testament Readings. This morning I went first to the USCCB site and then went to the Universalis website just to compare the translations and the difference in some words used:

Gospel 'If you want to, you can cure me" (Universalis: Mass)

After Jesus had come down from the mountain large crowds followed Him. A leper now came up and bowed low in front of 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 his leprosy was cured at once. Then Jesus said to him, ‘Mind you do not tell anyone, but go and show yourself to the priest and make the offering prescribed by Moses, as evidence for them.’ (Mt 8:1-4)

The First Reading is a very long one from the Old Testament, Second Book of Kings, basically recounting the terrible siege of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, and his whole army and the subsequent exile of God’s people in Babylon. The Responsorial Psalm (Ps 147) repeats the mournful cry of those in Exile:

By the streams of Babylon
we sat and wept
when we remembered Zion…

…If I forget you, Jerusalem,
may my right hand be forgotten!

How often in the Scripture we hear of God’s need to “cure” His People to “cleanse” them from their waywardness! The translators do well in choosing either of those words for Jesus in His curing/cleansing the leper in today’s Gospel. It is becoming more and more important to ponder God’s Word especially in these days of trial for the Church and the whole world.

Mary is Mother for all of us, and it is important to remember she is also the Model for the Church. We cannot forget her who is also called “The City of God” and rightly so for she never sinned but always like her Son, the Incarnate Word of God sought only to do the will of The Father. Come Holy Spirit, fill the Hearts of Your Faithful. Fill us as your filled Mary with Jesus. Cleanse us, cure us from all that separates us from knowing, loving and doing Your Truth!

 

[MariaChristi]

Dear Gio,

Thanks much for your “heart” which is a testimony to your love for Jesus through Mary. Your avatar shows Mary as she is often described: “…fair as the moon, bright as the sun and terrible as an army set in battle array”. Her love for us is one with her Son, since Jesus gave her to us in His words from the Cross to John and to all of us: “Behold Your Mother”.

This morning as my husband and I prayed the Liturgy of the Hours together I noticed as I never had before how the words from Tobit reminded me of Mary’s Magnificat:

Canticle Tobit 13 - Thanksgiving for the freeing of the people

Rejoice, O Jerusalem, since through you all men will be gathered together to the Lord. Bless the Lord, His chosen ones: all of you, praise His greatness. Keep feast-days of rejoicing and proclaim His holy name. Jerusalem, holy city: He will punish you for what you have done. ( NOTE: God permitted Mary to suffer, but He did not punish her nor Jesus for They were sinless! They suffered for our sins – so too God permits some of us to suffer even while we seek to remain faithful that we may become holy as He is Holy.)

Thank the Lord for His good deeds, and bless the eternal king, so that in you, once more, with gladness, your tabernacle may be built, so that in you He may make all exiles rejoice, so that in you He may care for the distressed for all ages, for ever. Your bright light will shine out to the ends of the earth: many nations will come to you from afar. From the farthest corners of the world they will come to your holy name carrying gifts in their hands for the King of heaven.

Generation on generation, they will proclaim their joy and the name of the chosen city will endure for ever. So rejoice and be glad among the children of the just, for they will be brought together and bless the eternal Lord. Happy are those who love you, fortunate those who rejoice in your peace. My soul, bless the Lord, the great King, for in Jerusalem His house will be built, to stand for ever.

Truly we know that God built in Mary His True Tabernacle for Jesus, and when we obey Jesus’ Wors: “Behold Your Mother” we see in her out Mother and the Model for all His Holy Church. We too, by God’s Grace, can become a holy dwelling for Him!

 

[MariaChristi]

Dear Theosis,

Thanks so much for your “heart” and welcome to Catholic Answers Forum. I saw in your profile that you joined only 3 days ago. I also was blessed in reading your words:

“I desire only to see God and share Him with all of His creatures. Praised be Jesus Christ, the Son of God, now and forever.”

Your words reminded me of St. Louis de Montfort’s words: in His book on True Devotion : “Totus tuus” - (All Yours).

Please let us pray for one another, for the Church and all those in Most need of God’s Mercy.