In the Gospel for the day, we read about the leper who begs Jesus to cure him. He says, “If you wish, you can make me clean.” Jesus, moved with pity for him, stretches His hand toward him, and replies, “I do will it. Be made clean.” Immediately, the man is cured from leprosy.
My Reflection
My brothers and sisters in Christ, there are 2 highlights in this beautiful Gospel narrative:
1. The Leper
Pay close attention to how he begged Jesus to cure him. He did not demand Jesus to heal him. What he particularly said was, “IF YOU WISH.” Although the cure from leprosy was obviously what he wanted the most in life, his very words to Jesus meant that he was giving Him the freedom to decide whether He, who is God, willed for him to be healed or not.
This leper showed the virtue of humility toward God. Many of us ask for God’s mercy and compassion. We ask for answers to our prayers, especially those that are extremely important or even a matter of life and death. However, some of us forget to humble ourselves as we lift up our personal intentions to God, or our prayers for intercession to Mama Mary or to the Saints. I sincerely understand why we tend to forget this virtue; it’s because we believe that we must be answered right away, more so if we’re praying for urgent concerns. This often happens in prayers like Novenas. I, too, can’t help sometimes but EXPECT my intention to be granted whenever I pray Novenas, especially the ones that Catholics claim to be “powerful.”
Let us be cautious of the word “powerful.” While it’s true that God is the most powerful, it doesn’t mean or guarantee that He is going to grant the intentions of our prayers, including Novenas, each and every time. To command and demand God to grant us what we ask for is Pride, which is the sin that has caused the devil and his evil spirits to go against God; the same sin that will lead them into eternal fire.
Like the leper who prayed with humility, always remember to humbly ask from God, and to be humbly open to His will for us. A prideful man is one who tells God that he knows ‘better’ than Him. But we ought to follow the example of the afflicted leper who meekly surrendered himself to whatever decision God would make for him.
2. Our Lord Jesus Christ
Now pay close attention to His answer to the leper, “I DO will it.” Instead of just plainly saying, “I will it,” Jesus emphasized it with “I do.” And I think it was to acknowledge the humility of the leper in leaving the decision up to Him. We learn here that at the end of the day, it is always God who says “I DO” to whatever prayers we say to Him. Even when people say that this one Novena or another really “works,” it is entirely up to God to grant our petition or not.
Better still, no matter how much people tell you that your condition, your situation, or your prayer (with clean and good intentions) is “impossible,” do not believe them, for God is merciful and just, and the final say is always His. This one Bible verse reminds us of how Jesus looked at His disciples and said,
“For human beings this is impossible, but for God all things are possible.”
— Matthew 19:26
Remember that our prayers must be of clean, good and honest intentions. And like the leper who spread in public the grace he received out of pure joy, let us give God our sincere commitment that we would use our answered prayers for the good, and not for worldliness or sinfulness.
The bottom line: Trust in God
No matter how beautifully or eloquently we recite our prayers to God, it is only His will that makes anything possible. Only God knows if our prayer intention, the leper’s cry for healing, for example, is for our good or not. The Lord is just waiting for us to humble ourselves, ask, and trust in Him, and He already knows exactly how to respond to us in a way that is good not only for our bodies but for our souls. What we must do then is to beg for God’s mercy with humility, and just say to Him our prayers with sincerity. Trust in God that He knows what He is doing, whether or not we agree to or understand His ways. Like in the Psalms for the day, the psalmist cries out that they are in their “woe and oppression.” But the Antiphon replies, “Redeem us, Lord, because of your mercy.” God’s plan of salvation is perfect. Know that He only wills what is good for us, which ultimately is for us to be able to enter Heaven someday.
Mass Readings for the Day:
1 Samuel 4:1-11; Psalm 44:10-11, 14-15, 24-25; Matthew 4:23; Mark 1:40-45
A simple prayer I wrote for the day:
God, hear my prayer, and help me accept and do not my own will, but Your holy will.
Saint Joseph, pray for us!
Mama Mary, pray for us!
Amen.
She graduated cum laude from the University of Santo Tomas, the country's Pontifical and Catholic university, with an AB in Legal Management and minor units in Theology.
As an unmarried woman, prayer holds a central place in her daily life, with a focus on the Rosary and the Divine Office. Embodying her faith, she emphasizes the growth of her inner spiritual life, guided by the wisdom of Carmelite spirituality.
God manifested to her in a unique and radical manner, which made her know Who He truly is and led her to total surrender of her life to Him.
She has studied the Bible with her family, developing a particular fondness for the Old Testament.
Her adorable and intelligent toy poodle is a delightful companion in her daily life, bringing warmth and joy to her home.
Her hobbies include reading about everything, learning Japanese and German, listening to music and playing the flute.
In her leisure time, she enjoys gaming on PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch OLED, Nintendo 3DS, iOS and OS, and collecting things related to PlayStation and Nintendo.
Email: [email protected]
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Please keep up the good work. It means so much to me
This is a great site. I love the ease in finding many of the prayers. Thank you for this and all your work.
Thank u for sharing with me the word of god sometimes i cant read the bible, because of this account i’ve kn0wn a lot, and the m0st is to know How God is important. Thank u.
Thank you as well Brother Dennis! You are in our prayers. May God bless you.