Lord, if you wish, heal our world of COVID 19

Readings: 1^st: 2 Kg 25:1-12; Ps: 137; Gos: Mt 8:1-4

This brief reflection was written by Fr. Njoku Canice Chukwuemeka, C.S.Sp. He is a Catholic Priest and a member of the Congregation of the Holy Spirit (Spiritans). He is a missionary in Puerto Rico, the island of enchantment. He is the Chancellor of the Dioceses of Fajardo-Humacao, Puerto Rico; the Parish Priest of Parroquia la Resurrección del Senor, Canovanas and the Major Superior of the Congregation of the Holy Spirit (Spiritans), Circumscription of Puerto Rico and Dominican Republic. For more details and comments contact him at:  canice_c_njoku@yahoo.com, canicechukwuemeka@gmail.com.

On this Friday of the twelfth week of ordinary time, the gospel presents us a spectacular encounter of Christ after his sermon on the mount.

Among those that followed Christ after his sermon was a leper. However, apart from being a leper there is something that differentiates him from the crowd.

While the crowd eventually left, this man remained with Christ. Second, he did what others did not do: “He did him homage.”

Through this, he attracted the attention of Christ, and then humbly made his plea to Christ: “Lord, if you wish, you can make me clean.”

Through this humble act, the leper allowed himself to experience his own need of healing.

His plea was very humble because he knew that at this moment, everything depended on the mercy of God. Of course, moved by compassion, Christ healed him immediately.

From this leper we learn that, we need to go further than the others in order to encounter Christ personally. Also, that we should always make our plea in a humble manner.

This miracle of the healing of this leper reminds us that, our world is not constructed with stone. Rather, that it is subject, and open to the power and grace of God.

Like this leper, in one way or the other we all need help. The good news is that, God is always willing to help us if we manifest a true faith in him, through right actions.

The leper manifested his faith through his right actions – going extra mile with Christ and humbly voicing his need.

So, let us humbly ask Christ to come to our aid, and heal our world of this terrible diseases of COVID -19.

Peace be with you all!

Maranatha!