Luke 5:12-16 NRSVue
12Once when he was in one of the cities, a man covered with a skin disease was there. When he saw Jesus, he bowed with his face to the ground and begged him, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.” 13Then Jesus stretched out his hand, touched him, and said, “I am willing. Be made clean.” Immediately the skin disease left him. 14And he ordered him to tell no one. “But go, show yourself to the priest, and, as Moses commanded, make an offering for your cleansing, as a testimony to them.” 15But now more than ever the word about Jesus spread abroad; many crowds were gathering to hear him and to be cured of their diseases. 16Meanwhile, he would slip away to deserted places and pray.
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Reflection on Luke 5:12-16
Inspiration from 2025-01-11 Daily Prayer
Jesus never refused anyone who came to him with faith asking to be healed. Lepers were not supposed even to approach other people for fear of infecting them. Yet Jesus reaches out and touches and heals the leper. This leper knows he can freely come to Jesus. We know that we too can always come to him to be healed.
Jesus Christ, yesterday, today, the same for ever, always wants whatever is best for us and gives us healing.
Further reflection
An energy-point for Jesus was his prayer, and we find that at key times of his life, he prayed: before calling the twelve, at the time of temptation and the struggle at his Passion and death; and very often as part of his life he went to quiet places to pray. His ministry needed the support and life-giving energy of his relationship with his Father. With us our life of love needs the energy of prayer. Prayer enhances family life, friendship and work or ministry for others. When we bring the love and commitments of our lives to prayer, something happens to being us deeper into the source of our convictions and commitments to God and others.