“God never tires of forgiving us; we are the ones who tire of seeking his mercy.”

The life of Jesus Christ is a summary and compendium of the story of divine mercy: “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.” And on another occasion our Lord said: “Be merciful, therefore, even as your Father is merciful.” Many other scenes of the Gospel have also made a deep impact on us, such as his forgiveness of the adulterous woman, the parable of the prodigal son, that of the lost sheep, that of the pardoned debtor, the resurrection of the son of the widow at Naim. How many reasons based on justice could Christ have found to work this great wonder! The only son of that poor widow had died, he who gave meaning to her life, he who could help her in her old age. But Jesus didn’t perform the miracle out of justice, but out of compassion, because his heart was moved by human suffering. – Excerpt from “Christ is Passing By”) – St Josemaria Escriva founder of Opus Dei

Gospel Text: (MK 1:40-45)

A leper came to him and kneeling down begged him and said,

“If you wish, you can make me clean.”

Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand,

touched the leper, and said to him,

“I do will it. Be made clean.”

The leprosy left him immediately, and he was made clean.

Then, warning him sternly, he dismissed him at once.

Then he said to him, “See that you tell no one anything,

but go, show yourself to the priest

and offer for your cleansing what Moses prescribed;

that will be proof for them.”

The man went away and began to publicize the whole matter.

He spread the report abroad

so that it was impossible for Jesus to enter a town openly.

He remained outside in deserted places,

and people kept coming to him from everywhere.

Jesus in today’s gospel met the Lepers misery with compassion and tender kindness.  He communicated the love and mercy of God in a sign that spoke more eloquently than words. 

How do you approach the untouchables and outcasts of today, and those you find difficult to love?

Do you offer them mercy and help as Jesus did? 

The Lord is always ready to show us his mercy and to free us from whatever makes us unclean.

All we have to do is ask, like the leper, “If you wish, you can make me clean.”

But here is the catch, we do have to humbly ask….