Friday of the Twelfth Week In Ordinary Time
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.”
Lord, if you wish. What a ridiculous statement. Of course the Lord wants us to be clean. He is God. He is our Creator and Father. Of course He wants us to be free from sin. What Father wouldn’t want the very best for their children? Com’on now. Really? Oh, how I try to place blame on someone other than myself!
The question really isn’t whether or not God wants to make me clean. The question is whether or not I want to be made clean! Lord, you wish to make me clean. Help me pick up the bar of soap and start lathering up!
The leper approached Jesus. Don’t you dare come close to me! What this leper did, I need to do. What he did took a lot of faith, strength and courage. I need to approach Jesus in good faith. I need to muster enough faith, strength and courage to approach the Lord in times of trial. I need to pick up the pieces of my life and offer them to God. Not only that: I must also allow others to approach me! I, the sick one, must allow others to take me by the hand and heal me.
But most of all: I need to be humble. Yes, humility takes me all the way to God! Humility is the direct path that leads me to the Lord.
Show yourself…that will be proof enough. How will we help others to follow the Lord? What will it take? Will it be our words? Yes and no. Will it be the Word of God? Yes and no. What will it be? It will be our lives. “Show yourself…that will be proof enough.”
Burden of proof: I finally realized something about non-believers. They have double-standards: one for them and another for God. They demand “scientific” proofs of God’s existence, miracles and the human soul while never demanding scientific proofs of, say, paternity, good intentions, and friendships. Their understanding of God must be entirely intellectual, from the brain. But with their friends, it has to be nearly entirely from the heart. I know you by heart.
In order for God to gain their respect, His actions must be entirely beneficial and to their liking. But with friends, respect is given to them due to the goodness of their heart, even if their actions were entirely unhelpful!
How funny! Oh, the double standards of a non-believer!
With God, they must see Him in order to believe Him. But with a boyfriend or girlfriend, they’re presence is always felt, even if they are a million miles away!
Is friendship simply rational? Is love purely chemical? They insist on cold facts for God’s love and friendship but they don’t insist on it for anyone else!
They can explain to their neighbor, by means of physics and chemistry, how the sun helps their yard to grow. But what they can never explain, by means of physics and chemistry, is why their neighbor’s son volunteers to mow it. Which of the two is most impressive? I would say all of the above; that is, everything big and small is a miracle!
Fortunately, these individuals see the magnitude of the sun. Unfortunately, they fail to see the magnanimity of the soul.
They see life “objectively” while living it “subjectively.”
Fortunately, these individuals see the magnitude of the sun. Unfortunately, they fail to see the magnanimity of the soul.
They see life “objectively” while living it “subjectively.”
They think the Creator must first be a scientist. They can't imagine Him as an artist, and with art being the source ("Father") of all sciences.
The leper was a believer. And though his body was falling apart, his faith, heart and mind remained strong. This might explain why this leper became clean. This might explain why others did not.
The leper was a believer. And though his body was falling apart, his faith, heart and mind remained strong. This might explain why this leper became clean. This might explain why others did not.
Father Alfonse,
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for your daily meditations! They have helped me grow spiritually and I have learned so many new things that have strengthened my faith. God bless you always, and please keep posting!
Sincerely,
Maritza
Our Lady once said in one of her apparitions to the children in Medjugorje, that we should not call those who do not have the faith, "non-believeres". She said by calling them that, we are already judging them and their lives and hearts. She would prefer it if we say, "those who have not yet come know the love of God". And that we must never give up praying for these people. For every christian on earth has a family memeber, friend, co-worker or even a distant person that they know that has not come to the fullness of God's love yet. We must pray for them and she adds that by praying for them that we at the same time are praying for our own lives. All of us, not just "those" people can never get too close to the heart of Jesus. Its a constant beckoning from the Lord to us that will even deepen in heaven! Lets practice this now so in heaven it will be a continuation. Long live Jesus and Mary!!
ReplyDeletePs. Sorry I tried posting this already but sometimes i am not sure if my post went through for forgive me if it repeated twice. :)
Katie Giangiulio
And what if they call themselves that? Then?
ReplyDeleteWell if they knew they were God's child and knew of His love for them then they would not call themselves that. No one would. They define themselves on their own, therefore not knowing their true identity.
DeleteKatie Giangiulio