"IF YOU WISH, YOU CAN MAKE ME CLEAN”

 "IF YOU WISH, YOU CAN MAKE ME CLEAN”

The story that today's gospel (Mk 1: 40-45) gives us is one of the stories that I personally enjoy the most, because I believe it leaves us with great teaching regarding our relationship with Jesus. Not only because we can see that the love and mercy of Jesus for those who are in need is great; but also I like this story especially because of the attitude of the person who approaches Jesus and asks for a miracle. I think we can discover the following elements in today's gospel:

·  We must know who we are addressing, and who we are dealing with. When we approach Jesus, it is to recognize that He is the one who can really make a change in our lives. Jesus can take control of what I cannot handle.

·  With Jesus, our treatment of others and ourselves, must be one of humility. Humility always appears as the virtue of virtues. Humility is the acceptance of my circumstances before God. It is knowing how to recognize in myself what there really is and what I really am.

·  You have to talk, you have to ask. It is said that the only prayer that is not heard is the one that is not said. Jesus himself already tells us: “For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.”, (Mt 7:8)

·  Miracles happen. I believe that when God's, will and our will look in the same direction finally everything is possible, "for nothing will be impossible for God." (Lk 1, 37)

·  Gratitude. We must be grateful to God, as Psalm 136 reminds us: “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his love endures forever!” (Ps 136,1)

I invite you to consider these points in our spiritual life and strengthen our relationship with our Lord who offers himself, so that in Him we may all have life and life in abundance (John 10, 10).

Fr. Carlos Flores, OSA