Matthew 8:23-27 | Ivan Aivazovsky | A Storm so violent that the Waves were breaking...

Matthew 8:23-27 A Storm so violent that the Waves were breaking...

The Wave, Painted by Ivan Aivazovsky (1817-1900), Painted in 1889, oil on canvas © Russian State Museum, Saint Petersburg Jesus got into the boat followed by his disciples. Without warning a storm broke over the lake, so violent that the waves were breaking right over the boat. But he was asleep. So they went to him and woke him saying, ‘Save us, Lord, we are going down!’ And he said to them, ‘Why are you so frightened, you men of little faith?’ And with that he stood up and rebuked the winds and the sea; and all was calm again. The men were astounded and said, ‘Whatever kind of man is this? Even the winds and the sea obey him.’ READ MORE Reflection on the Marine Painting This is where the Internet and these emails are limited, as they can’t convey the true magnificence and size of some of the paintings I share with you. Today’s painting by Russian artist Ivan Aivazovsky, called ‘The Wave’, is 3 by 5 meters in size (10 x 16 ft.). As a viewer, you are right in the midst of the storm, an almost cinematic experience (I also share an additional photo below, in order to convey the scale of this work). Viewing the painting, one can feel the breath of cold winds and taste the salty seas, the painting appealing to all senses. All of Ivan's paintings were completed in his workshop, from memory. So Aivazovsky had a phenomenal capacity to remember details of a scene. Our painting is dominated by dark tones. Lighter shades are simply used to render the foamy tops of the waves and the translucent turquoise of the waters.  This painting was put on display to great acclaim in Paris in 1890, after which the artist was awarded the Légion d'Honneur (France’s highest order for military and civil merit). The scene in our Gospel reading, of Jesus calming the seas, sees Him interacting directly with His Father’s creation of the seas, and God’s power present in Jesus. The intricate large-scale painting reminds us of the magnificence of the seas… and the magnificence of Jesus calming them… by Patrick van der Vorst

Letting Jesus Sleep

Letting Jesus Sleep June 30, 2020

Tuesday of the Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time Matthew 8:23-27 As Jesus got into the boat, his disciples followed him. A windstorm arose on the sea, so great that the boat was being swamped by the waves; but he was asleep. And they went and woke him up, saying, "Lord, save us! We are perishing!" And he said to them, "Why are you afraid, you of little faith?" Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a dead calm. They were amazed, saying, "What sort of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him? Introductory Prayer: Lord, I come to you in this meditation ready to do whatever it is you ask. Left to myself I often take the easy and convenient path, yet I know the way of a Christian is through the narrow gate. In you I find the reason to abandon the easy path for a more perfect mission of love. I’m ready to learn the meaning of your command: “Follow me.” Petition: Lord, grant me the grace of a mature faith. God’s Silence, Man’s Faith: We can imagine ourselves in the place of the apostles, in this poor boat tossed by the turbulent waves. The situation instantly speaks to our worst of fears; yet Jesus sleeps. Our temptation is to wake him…and too many souls do so through complaining incessantly, despairing attitudes, withdrawing from prayer, or unloading anger on others. When in a moment of trial, we find life is no longer under our complete control, the option of meltdown is always at hand. But we mustn’t take that route; instead we must contemplate the power that emanates from the sleeping Christ. Trials are intended by God to draw us closer to him and increase our dependence on him. We have to live from faith; otherwise all that reigns is fear, insecurity and bitterness. The “Silence of Christ” is powerful. To pass over its meaning lightly is to abandon some of the deepest lessons of Christ’s heart. The “Silence of Christ” must teach us. The “Silence of Christ” Speaks to Our Faith: What is Christ’s sleep like? As a young mother, Mary watched Jesus sleep many times. Archbishop Martinez writes: “Jesus was exceedingly beautiful when he spoke the words of eternal life, accomplished wonders, looked with love, pardoned with mercy and caressed with tenderness. But I would like to have seen him while he was sleeping because I could have contemplated him to my heart’s content, without the fascination of his gaze distracting me, without the perfection of his beauty and the glory of his splendor dazzling my eyes and enrapturing my soul. The beauty of Jesus awake is far too great for my smallness. Who could support it? I felt it more suited to me veiled by sleep, as the glory of the sun is more adapted to my eyes when I look at it through a translucent lens” (When Jesus Sleeps, p.15). May I trust the power of Christ just as much when he chooses not to act as when he does. God’s Eternal Pedagogy: Water, a boat, the apostles and Christ… this scene repeats itself over and over again in the Gospel. Water is a symbol of the experiences of life taken on a human level; the boat is the experience of faith on a supernatural level -- it is our life with Christ. Christ’s message is that we can never let our experiences of life overwhelm our experience of faith. We have to live not from the surface level of impressions of the moment, but from the deep channel of faith that reveals the action of God, the wisdom of his Providence and the ultimate destiny of eternity. Faith is what reveals Christ’s presence in our boat; faith is what makes us believe that every wave and wind gust are blessed invitations to confide in the One who rules all. Faith is what permits God to console our hearts, calm our fears and preserve our joy in the midst of problems and difficulties that may take months or years to run their course. Conversation with Christ: Lord, I know belief makes me vulnerable. But I know that I will not know your love if I do not believe that you can make me happier than I can be by myself. If I do not face the enemies of my soul and my mission and abandon myself to your grace, I will not know your victory. Resolution: Today I will take a problem and, with complete trust and confidence in him, leave it totally in God’s hands.

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Matthew 8:18-22 | Raqib Shaw | The birds of the Air have Nests

Matthew 8:18-22 The birds of the Air have Nests

Arrival of the Horse King from the series Paradise Lost, Painted by Raqib Shaw (born 1974), Painted in 2011, oil, acrylic, enamel, glitter, rhinestones on birch plywood © Phillips London, 29 June 2015, lot 11, sold for £722,000 When Jesus saw the great crowds all about him he gave orders to leave for the other side. One of the scribes then came up and said to him, ‘Master, I will follow you wherever you go.’ Jesus replied, ‘Foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.’ Another man, one of his disciples, said to him, ‘Sir, let me go and bury my father first.’ But Jesus replied, ‘Follow me, and leave the dead to bury their dead.’ READ MORE Reflection on the Painting The artist we are looking at today, Raqib Shaw, grew up in Kashmir before moving to London. He creates opulent and fantastical visions with enamels on canvas which give his works jewel-like surfaces bursting with colour.  His compositions often remind me of those of Hieronymus Bosch. His meticulous method of painting results in some startling results such as the painting here: look at the hundreds of tiny birds flying, the cherubs, the various animals in full action, the fruits and flowers… an epic, dramtic scene... In our Gospel reading today, Jesus meets a rich young man. Knowing the young man’s heart, Jesus realises that he didn’t fully realise what the cost is of becoming a true disciple of Christ. Jesus uses the analogy of ‘the birds of the air have nests’ (of which hundreds are depicted in our painting). In their nests birds sit, sleep, lay and hatch their eggs, feed their young, teach them to fly, etc… Jesus makes the point that even wild animals can claim a home, but to follow Jesus is a permanent road trip… a permanent journey where one has to make the necessary sacrifices. Jesus was warning the young man about just one of the many difficulties that would come with following Him… The lack of response from the young man, or of any further information about him, suggests that he would not and did not ultimately follow Jesus… by Patrick van der Vorst

Rock of Peter

Rock of Peter June 29, 2020

Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul Father Edward McIlmail, LC Matthew 16:13-19 When Jesus went into the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do people say that the Son of Man is?" They replied, "Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets." He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" Simon Peter said in reply, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." Jesus said to him in reply, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah. For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father. And so, I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Introductory Prayer: Jesus, I believe in you. I believe that you came into this world to suffer and die to give me a chance at eternal salvation. I want to draw close to you in this prayer. May this time I spend with you be an expression of my love. Petition: Help me, Lord, to enter into a deeper, personal relationship with you. Identity Crisis: Jesus isn't interested in what "others" think of him. He wants to know what I think of him. The test of any relationship is how committed people are to each other. At some point a young woman will wonder, how serious is her boyfriend? After a few weeks of class, a professor wants to know, who are the serious students here? On the eve of battle a soldier might wonder, can I count on my buddies when the bullets start flying? Likewise, Our Lord wonders about us. What does Christ mean to me? Is he just a picture on a holy card? A dimly perceived do-gooder from the past? Or does he have a real place in my life? He is, after all, the Second Person of the Trinity who came into the world in order to save us. How does that truth affect my faith? Heavenly Revelation: Peter professes that Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah. And Jesus in turn tells him that this knowledge doesn't come from the world. It comes from God the Father. Recognition of Jesus as the Christ involves an act of faith. Throughout history skeptics have tried to figure out Jesus, using just their reason and tools of research. But since when do we try to understand the totality of a person with reason? Learning about another person can often require personal contact, above all, listening to him or her. Do I try to listen to Jesus in prayer, in Scripture? Or do I simply try to "figure him out"? Binding and Loosing: Keys were a symbol of authority. Our Lord had all authority on earth (see Matthew 28:18 and Mark 2:10). Authority implies the ability to delegate it; hence, Jesus gave Peter, as the first pope, the power to bind and loose, that is, to make disciplinary rules within the Church. A child who disobeys a licit command from its mother is committing a sin. Why? Not because Mom is God, but because Mom has authority from God. Authority, in this case papal authority, is not an imposition but rather a service. The Pope's unique authority gives us a sure guide on moral questions. The Pope doesn't have the power to make morality but rather to define authoritatively on issues at hand. How well do I know papal teaching? Do I make an effort to learn why he teaches as he teaches? When a difficulty arises, do I consult Church teaching? "Whoever listens to you listens to me. Whoever rejects you rejects me" (Luke 10:16). Conversation with Christ: Lord, help me to love my faith as an expression of my personal relationship with you. Keep me from ever growing cold in my faith. Grant me a renewed appreciation for the gift of papal authority. Resolution: I will read a few paragraphs of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, for example, a few about the papacy (880-887, 895, 1559).

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Matthew 16:13-19 | El Greco | Solemnity of Saint Peter and Saint Paul

Matthew 16:13-19 Solemnity of Saint Peter and Saint Paul

Saint Peter and Saint Paul, Painted by El Greco (1541-1614), Painted circa 1590, Oil on canvas © Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya, Barcelona When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi he put this question to his disciples, ‘Who do people say the Son of Man is?’ And they said, ‘Some say he is John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.’ ‘But you,’ he said ‘who do you say I am?’ Then Simon Peter spoke up, ‘You are the Christ,’ he said ‘the Son of the living God.’ Jesus replied, ‘Simon son of Jonah, you are a happy man! Because it was not flesh and blood that revealed this to you but my Father in heaven. So I now say to you: You are Peter and on this rock I will build my Church. And the gates of the underworld can never hold out against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven: whatever you bind on earth shall be considered bound in heaven; whatever you loose on earth shall be considered loosed in heaven.’ READ MORE Reflection on the Painting I have never been a great fan of El Greco’s work but I always find myself drawn to it. The restricted colour palette, the simple compositions, the sketchy, hastily painted brushstrokes are not what one expects from a late-16th-century painter - and therein lies his genius. His paintings feel very 'contemporary' by 21st-century standards, but yet his style remains a very particular one, that one likes or not. El Greco completed our painting of Saint Peter (holding the keys) and Saint Paul (holding a sword), who we celebrate today, around 1590 in Toledo, Spain. There is a sense of a halo around the heads of the saints, produced by providing a blue opening in the cloud-filled background. The placement of the hands of the two saints, crossed without actually touching, symbolises a possible disagreement between the two on certain matters they discussed. Peter, on the left, is pointing towards Paul, suggesting a sign of surrender in the disagreement. It probably refers to the disagreement Paul and Peter had at the Council of Jerusalem held in 50 AD. It was decreed that gentile (non Jewish) Christians did not have to observe the Mosaic Law of the Jews, an argument won by Saint Paul. Today is a solemnity, a feast day of the highest rank, where we celebrate both their martyrdom and their tireless efforts to get the early Church established. St Augustine of Hippo in the 4th century states: “Both apostles share the same feast day, for these two were one; and even though they suffered on different days, they were as one. Peter went first, and Paul followed. And so, we celebrate this day made holy for us by the apostles’ blood.” by Patrick van der Vorst

Being Worthy of Me

Being Worthy of Me June 28, 2020

Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time Matthew 10:37-42 Jesus said to his apostles: “Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and whoever does not take up the cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever welcomes you welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. Whoever welcomes a prophet in the name of a prophet will receive a prophet's reward; and whoever welcomes a righteous person in the name of a righteous person will receive the reward of the righteous; and whoever gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones in the name of a disciple--truly I tell you, none of these will lose their reward.” Introductory Prayer:  Lord, I wish to put aside all distractions and to give you my total focus. I will do nothing more important today than to meditate prayerfully on your goodness and your active role in my life. Though I am unworthy to be in your presence, I trust in your mercy and love. Through this moment of prayer, I want to draw closer to you and learn to live more like you. Petition: Lord, grant me a heart that is truly worthy of your presence. Those Who Lose Their Life for My Sake Will Find It: The choice Christ offers is clear and stark. There is no middle ground. It is life or death for us. Moses was just as clear to the Israelites: “I call heaven and earth to witness against you this day, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse; therefore choose life, that you and your descendants may live, loving the Lord your God, obeying his voice, and cleaving to him; for that means life to you and length of days, that you may dwell in the land which the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them” (Deuteronomy 30:19-20). Is my greatest concern to gain the kind of life Christ is talking about, eternal life, for myself and those I love? Can I truly say I’m choosing life by cleaving to him above all else? Giving Without Setting Conditions: Life with Christ demands a total surrender that is not nuanced with conditions, human calculations or personal preferences. Many have determined that they are giving enough to God, but they are still empty of him. They give, but they are not given. They only cheat themselves of a living experience of Christ and a love for his kingdom that would fill their heart and strengthen their spirit. I must labor never to let my decision for Christ decay into self-serving postures. “…Is Not Worthy of Me”: Just as the High Priest of the Old Covenant could enter the Holy of Holies in the Temple only with the blood of sacrifice sprinkled before him, we are worthy to enter the divine presence only with sacrifice: Christ’s. When the soldier withdrew his lance from Christ’s side, the unstoppable fire of Christ’s charity broke forth, and the deflated heart of Our Lord taught a lesson that the world had never seen: the heart of a Christian is preserved by giving itself away; it is expanded when it has been completely emptied. Christ wants to enter into our heart, yet nothing makes us more worthy of him than our conscious effort to accept pains and sufferings for love of him. Self-denial, detachment, taking the harder path… these will not destroy us; they will vivify us. Conversation with Christ: Lord, I know that my disordered passions and weaknesses lead me away from you. Help me to re-order my life. With your Sacred Heart as my light, I know I need not fear the loss of anything on this earth as long as I have preserved you in my life and mission. Resolution: I will offer a special sacrifice in an area where I am often too indulgent.

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Matthew 8:5-17 | Basilica Zagreb | I am not worthy to have you under my roof

Matthew 8:5-17 I am not worthy to have you under my roof

Jesus and the Centurion, Stained glass Window, Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in Zagreb, Croatia Executed in 1901 © Christian Art When Jesus went into Capernaum a centurion came up and pleaded with him. ‘Sir,’ he said ‘my servant is lying at home paralysed, and in great pain.’ ‘I will come myself and cure him’ said Jesus. The centurion replied, ‘Sir, I am not worthy to have you under my roof; just give the word and my servant will be cured. For I am under authority myself, and have soldiers under me; and I say to one man: Go, and he goes; to another: Come here, and he comes; to my servant: Do this, and he does it.’ When Jesus heard this he was astonished and said to those following him, ‘I tell you solemnly, nowhere in Israel have I found faith like this. And I tell you that many will come from east and west to take their places with Abraham and Isaac and Jacob at the feast in the kingdom of heaven; but the subjects of the kingdom will be turned out into the dark, where there will be weeping and grinding of teeth.’ And to the centurion Jesus said, ‘Go back, then; you have believed, so let this be done for you.’ And the servant was cured at that moment. And going into Peter’s house Jesus found Peter’s mother-in-law in bed with fever. He touched her hand and the fever left her, and she got up and began to wait on him. That evening they brought him many who were possessed by devils. He cast out the spirits with a word and cured all who were sick. This was to fulfil the prophecy of Isaiah: He took our sicknesses away and carried our diseases for us. READ MORE Reflection on the Stained Glass Window These past few days we have looked in detail at the Sermon on the mount. After this, Jesus walked down from mountain outside of Capernaum, and when He entered the town again, He was met by a Roman centurion whose servant was so sick that he was expected to die shortly. Then the Centurion spoke the words we say at mass every day: Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed. What a magnificent display of faith. What is so beautiful about this story is how this Centurion was one the most unlikely persons to amaze Jesus. He was non-Jewish. Furthermore, as he was a Roman, he was stationed in Palestine to subject the Jews to the Roman Emperor's rule. He was a man of war. He achieved the rank of centurion probably by his brutal military achievements… and yet is one of the New Testament’s greatest heroes of faith… The story of the centurion shows us that Jesus came for everyone and that Christ looks at what is in our heart, and not at the outward appearances or achievements. by Patrick van der Vorst

Let It Be Done For You

Let It Be Done For You June 27, 2020

Saturday of the Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time Matthew 8:5-17 When Jesus 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; and to my slave, 'Do this,' and he does it." 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. I say to you, many will come from the east and the west, and will recline with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob at the banquet in the kingdom of heaven, but the children of the kingdom will be driven out into the outer darkness, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth." 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. Jesus entered the house of Peter, and saw his mother-in-law lying in bed with a fever. He touched her hand, the fever left her, and she rose and waited on him. When it was evening, they brought him many who were possessed by demons, and he drove out the spirits by a word and cured all the sick, to fulfill what had been said by Isaiah the prophet: He took away our infirmities and bore our diseases. Introductory Prayer: Lord I believe in you. I believe that you walk with me and accompany me with your power. I come before your holy throne, the throne of your heart. I know you want to bless me today with your friendship and to answer my prayers. Thank you for your faithful, generous love. Petition: Lord, increase my faith. Humility Moves God’s Heart: Not only does the Centurion have great faith; he has great humility. His humility is not feigned, for the circumstances are too grave for him to pretend to be humble, especially as Jesus has already agreed to come heal his servant. Nor is his humility the result of a low self-esteem, for there is tremendous confidence in his dealing with Jesus. His is the humility born of a faith that understands who Jesus is. It is the humility that the Church invites us to share every time we approach Our Lord during Communion at Mass: “Lord, you are far too great to come to me, but thank you for coming for I will die without you.” When Jesus Heard This, He Was Amazed: Now this is amazing. Consider what it would take to amaze Jesus. Yet here we have the answer: Faith -- faith in his person, his power, his plan for our lives. One day Jesus will rebuke Peter as Our Lord grasps his hand to save him from sinking: “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” (Matthew 14:31). The import of the question might be better seen if stated differently: “What is there in me that would make you mistrust me?” The answer is: Nothing. Any deficiency is in us, and this must be sincerely resolved in prayer, especially by contemplating the major truths of the faith: Jesus’ incarnation, passion, death and resurrection; the sacraments, especially baptism, confession and the Eucharist. If Jesus is amazed by our faith, we can rightly deduce that he is hurt by our lack of faith and trust in him. It Happens According to Our Faith: Christ’s comment is somewhat similar to what we pray in the “Our Father”: “Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.” Here we are saying, “Let my forgiveness of others be the standard by which I am forgiven.” By addressing the Centurion with these words, Jesus reveals that our degree of faith is the standard by which we possess what we ask for from God. In the First Eucharistic Prayer of the Mass we pray: “You know how firmly we believe in you and dedicate ourselves to you.” This is both consoling and alarming. It is consoling in that Christ knows the exact degree of our faith -- he knows the sincerity of our heart. We do not have to explain ourselves to him. It is alarming in that we also know that our faith is not always as strong as it should be. Therefore, we want to repeat what a man once said to Jesus: “I do believe, help my unbelief” (Mark 9:24). Conversation with Christ: Dear Lord, you are worthy of all my faith. Like the Centurion and the great saints, help me to focus my gaze on you in faith, confident that what you ask of me is always for my best. Mother Most Pure, make my heart only for Jesus. Resolution: Today I will take a few minutes to read and reflect upon Hebrews, Chapter 11.

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Matthew 8:1-4 | Prince Albert Morrow | And his leprosy was cured at once

Matthew 8:1-4 And his leprosy was cured at once

Leprosy, From the Atlas of Skin Diseases, by Prince Albert Morrow (1846-1913), Published by William Would & Company, New York, Historical medical illustration, Printed book © US National Library of Medicine 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.’ READ MORE Reflection on the Historical Medical Print When we read the Gospels, there is a danger of over-familiarity with the events that are described. It is the same with the healing of the leper, we think we know the story already when we start reading the Gospel passage. Art can help draw us right back into the ‘reality’ of the events. The medical print illustrated above, published in 1889, shows the severity of leprosy and what effect it had on people. It makes the leprosy of today’s reading very real and tangible. Whilst art is often about beauty and illustrating stories, throughout history, people have also turned to art to express emotions about diseases. Illustrating the hardships, diseases and sadness of life is as much part of art history as creating art for the beauty and glory of God. The paintings and prints such as the one we are looking at today, cover the period before the age of colour photography, and therefore also give medics a good idea of health issues in bygone eras. Our print today was rendered as realistically and pathologically accurately as possible, with a view to instructing physicians. In Jesus’ time, the leper was despised and shunned. In our reading today he becomes the object of divine attention. The leper who was a nobody in the eyes of society, became someone again… After his healing he could join Jewish society again… In prayer, we can be that leper and allow ourselves to be healed as well… by Patrick van der Vorst

The Healing Power of Confession

The Healing Power of Confession June 26, 2020

Friday of the Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time Matthew 8:1-4 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." Introductory Prayer: Lord, I believe in you and in your love. I trust in you as the way for me to live. I hope in the power of your cross to free me from all that is not you. I love you and want my love to be more real so that I may imitate your pure and total love. Petition: Lord, help me to turn from my sins. Lord, If You Wish, You Can Make Me Clean: Whenever we come to the sacrament of confession, we want the words of this humble leper to be on our lips: “Jesus, you can heal me from that which ails me, from my sin.” This leper’s act of faith is comparable to the Good Thief’s faith. While nailed to the cross next to Our Lord he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” In each case they see with eyes of faith beyond what the eyes of their body tell them. When we come to confess our sins with eyes of faith, we want to look beyond the priest to Jesus, the one who not only forgives our sins but heals our souls. He Stretched Out His Hand, and Touched Him: The Pharisees once asked the disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” (Matthew 9:11). Jesus is not afraid of my leprosy; he is not afraid of my sin. His love is simply more powerful than any person’s sin, no matter how grave. He is not afraid to be associated with sinners or to touch lepers. It was this same love that moved the Word to become “flesh and dwell among us” (John 1:14). By taking our human nature to himself he “stretched out his hand and touched us.” When we give Jesus our sins he nails them to the cross -- and it is precisely at the cross that we discover two things: the true nature of our sin and the infinite love the prompts Jesus to touch us. I Do Will It. Be Made Clean: Jesus wants the leper to be healed; he likewise wants you and me to be healed, clean, whole. Through the hands of the priest, Jesus stretches out his own hand and bids us to be clean so that we may not remain in our sins. Sin knocks at the door of our lives, but thanks to Jesus we do not have to continue in it. When Jesus heals us, he also gives us the strength (grace) to stay healthy. He heals us so that we may freely walk with him and imitate him in our lives. But do I want to leave aside all my sin? What former leper would ever wish to return to his leprosy? Ultimately it is the heart that must be made clean by way of constant prayer, the sacraments and a genuine effort to do what we know is pleasing to God. Conversation with Christ: Jesus, you know when I sit and when I stand. Before a word is on my lips you know the whole of it; with all my ways you are familiar (cf. Psalm 139). Help me to live in the light, correspond to your grace, and experience the healing joy that comes from friendship with you. Resolution: This week I will go to confession, taking time to prepare myself well.

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