Friday after Epiphany
Luke 5:12-16
It happened that there was a man full of leprosy in one of the towns where Jesus was; and when he saw Jesus, he fell prostrate, pleaded with him, and said, “Lord, if you wish, you can make me clean.” Jesus stretched out his hand, touched him, and said, “I do will it. Be made clean.” And the leprosy left him immediately. Then he ordered him not to tell anyone, but “Go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses prescribed; that will be proof for them.” The report about him spread all the more, and great crowds assembled to listen to him and to be cured of their ailments, but he would withdraw to deserted places to pray.
Opening Prayer: Lord, I assume the position of the leper, prostrate before you, pleading with you to enlighten me and make relevant to my life this Scripture, as I reflect on the cure with which you blessed this man two thousand years ago.
Encountering Christ:
- Touch Me, Lord: The leper in this story broke lots of societal rules to obtain his cure from Jesus. First, he approached Jesus. Lepers at the time were forced to live apart from the community because they were considered unclean both physically and morally. Second, the leper failed to announce himself by declaring he was “unclean,” a requirement of the law. Third, the leper prostrated himself and worshiped (cf. Mt 8:2) a “man,” knowing that good Jews worshiped only God, never man. What courage he had! Or was it total desperation that motivated him? Jesus knew the leper’s mind and willed to make him clean. The scene recalls those closing moments at Benediction when, being blessed by the monstrance, Jesus reaches out to touch each one of us and then bless the whole world. No matter how “unclean” we are, whether we’re absolutely desperate or full of faith, Jesus will never hesitate to stretch out his hand to give us a restorative blessing.
- Prostration: Lepers were prohibited from carrying their contagion into inhabited places, much less prostrating themselves before anyone healthy. There’s something very beautiful about this man’s prostration before the Lord. Priests prostrate themselves as part of their ordination. They also prostrate themselves during the Good Friday liturgy. I’ve occasionally seen people prostrate themselves before the monstrance at our parish adoration chapel. Prostration evokes a prayerful attitude of humility. Whether prostrated, kneeling, or sitting in a favorite prayer chair, our bodily posture can put us in the proper disposition for prayer by helping to quiet our senses.
- A Pattern of Holiness: The last line of this Gospel reading tells us that Jesus interspersed chaotic preaching and healing ministry with times for solitude and prayer. We too live chaotic lives full of meaningful activity, all of which hopefully gives glory to God. But do we also schedule a regular time for solitude and prayer? By his example, Jesus teaches us that prayer—the deep, mental, focused, dedicated kind—is essential for living all other aspects of our lives in accordance with God’s will. Our worldly duties and responsibilities often scream for our attention while Jesus whispers, “I miss you. Have you prayed today?”
Conversing with Christ: Lord, I believe that you want to touch me profoundly each day when I pray, but it can be so hard to meet you there. Help me, Lord, to make my daily time of prayer habitual. I know that the blessings you shower upon me in my solitude with you help me to maximize the rest of my day and give glory to you.
Resolution: If I’m not praying regularly, today by your grace I will choose the best time of my day and “make a date” with the Lord. If I have a regular prayer time, I will review my habits to see how I can improve my attentiveness (hide the phone, set a timer, etc.).
For Further Reflection: I will review the four step structure for prayer laid out by Father Bartunek, LC in The Better Part:
- Concentrate
- Consider
- Converse
- Commit
Maribeth Harper celebrated paying the last tuition bill for her kids’ college by writing a book for parents who have college-aged young adults: A Spiritual Toolbox: Tips for Parenting through the First Year of College. She is a wife of thirty-five years, mother of four, and grandmother of twelve and counting.
