Daily Scripture, January 16, 2025
Scripture:
Reflection:
When I read today’s Gospel, I think of and am struck by the faith of the leper. In his despair, in his loneliness, his aloneness, in his impossibly difficult situation, he seeks out the Lord, kneels before Him, and asks in faith to be made clean. And the Lord in His mercy and love, heals him. The leper’s request was no small ask. His healing would transform his life, his relationships, his very existence. Shouldn’t we approach the Lord with the same faith and desire as the leper?
In the Gospels Jesus speaks much to us about faith. “Go, your faith has saved you”, He says after performing so many of His healing miracles. ( eg:Mt 9:22 ) He also tells us we can move mountains if we have faith the size of a mustard seed (Mt 17:20 ). How strongly the Lord calls on us to have faith. We try, and when things are going along smoothly our faith can seem strong. Then when difficulty comes, when we are really struggling, our faith can falter.
Do we truly believe in all the Lord can accomplish in our life? That we can be healed or grow in virtue in an area of our life we never thought possible. That a loved one can return to the faith or that we can be reconciled with a family member or friend we haven’t talked to in forever. Do we believe Our Lord is present in the deep divisions in our country or in the isolation we are currently experiencing in the pandemic? Our Lord asks us to be like the leper. To trust in faith all He can do in our lives.
The Eucharist is the source and summit of our Catholic faith and the mass gives us a beautiful moment to become like the leper in our faith, in our desire to be made clean, and in our plea before the Lord. On our knees as the priest holds up the host, believing in the Lord’s presence in the sacrament we are about to receive we say, “Lord I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof”. About 5 or so years ago, after completing that prayer, I began to add in silence the prayer of the leper…..”Lord, if you wish, you can make me clean”. I then proceed in faith to the altar to receive the Lord in the Eucharist, trusting He alone can heal me. He alone can transform me. He alone can save our world.
Steve Walsh is a retreatant at Mater Dolorosa Retreat Center in Sierra Madre, and a good friend of the Passionist Community.
Scripture: Daniel 9:4b-10 Luke 6:36-38 Reflection: When I was a youngster, going to a Catholic School in East Los Angeles, there were some scriptural passages that had found a nesting » Continue Reading.
Second Sunday of Lent Scripture: Genesis 22:1-2, 9a, 10-13, 15-18 Romans 8:31b-34 Mark 9:2-10 Reflection: The Scriptures for this Second Sunday of Lent are exceptionally beautiful. In the first reading » Continue Reading.
Scripture: Deuteronomy 26:16-19 Matthew 5:43-48 Reflection: What’s the difference between a contract and a covenant? This is something I discuss with couples I meet with in preparing them for marriage. » Continue Reading.
Feast of St. Gabriel Possenti, C.P. Scripture: Ezekiel 18:21-28 Matthew 5:20-26 Reflection: Sometimes when I hear Jesus criticizing the Pharisees in the Gospels I can get on my religious high-horse. » Continue Reading.
Scripture: Jonah 3:1-10 Luke 11:29-32 Reflection: Another chance, another opportunity…it never stops with God… Jesus’ debate with the crowd following the exorcism of the demon that made a man mute » Continue Reading.
Scripture: Isaiah 55:10-11 Matthew 6:7-15 Reflection: Prayer is such a stretch for our poor human nature! To say prayer is difficult would be the understatement of the centuries. “No one » Continue Reading.
Scripture: Leviticus 19:1-2, 11-18 Matthew 25:31-46 Reflection: How vivid are my memories as a child after reading the life of one of the great saints of the Church! How often » Continue Reading.
First Sunday of Lent Scripture: Genesis 9:8-15 1 Peter 3:18-22 Mark 1: 12 -15 Reflection: “Lord, who throughout these forty days…” The opening line of a traditional Lenten hymn for » Continue Reading.
Scripture: Isaiah 58:9b-14 Luke 5:27-32 Reflection: Down in Taylor Country, Kentucky, where the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains rise, there was some farmland belonging to my grandfather, given to his » Continue Reading.
Scripture: Isaiah 58:1-9a Matthew 9:14-15 Reflection: As we begin our Lenten season and are urged to fast, pray and do penance in preparation for the great feast of Easter, we are » Continue Reading.