Assuredly, I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel!

 

 When He had come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed Him.  And behold, a leper came and worshiped Him, saying, "Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean."  Then Jesus put out His hand and touched him, saying, "I am willing; be cleansed."  Immediately his leprosy was cleansed.  And Jesus said to him, "See that you tell no one; but go your way, show yourself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, as a testimony to them."

Now when Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to Him, pleading with Him, saying, "Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, dreadfully tormented."  And Jesus said to him, "I will come and heal him."  The centurion answered and sad, "Lord, I am not worthy that You should come under my roof.  But only speak a word, and my servant will be healed.  For I also am a man under authority, having soldiers under me.  And I say to this one, 'Go,' and he goes; and to another, 'Come,' and he comes; and to my servant, 'Do this,' and he does it."  When Jesus heard it, He marveled, and said to those who followed, "Assuredly, I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel!  And I say to you that many will come from east and west, and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven.  But the sons of the kingdom will be cast into outer darkness.  There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."  Then Jesus said to the centurion, "Go your way; and as you have believed, so let it be done for you."  And his servant was healed that same hour.

Now when Jesus had come into Peter's house, He saw his wife's mother lying sick with a fever.  So He touched her hand, and the fever left her.  And she arose and served them.  When evening had come, they brought to Him many who were demon-possessed.  And He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were sick, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying:  

   "He Himself took our infirmities

   And bore our sicknesses."

 

- Matthew 8:1-17 

 

 

We have been reading through the Sermon on the Mount.  In yesterday's reading, Jesus taught,  "Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?'  And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!'  Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock:  and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.  But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand:  and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell.  And great was its fall."  And so it was, when Jesus had ended these sayings, that the people were astonished at His teaching, for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.

 

  When He had come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed Him.  And behold, a leper came and worshiped Him, saying, "Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean."  Then Jesus put out His hand and touched him, saying, "I am willing; be cleansed."  Immediately his leprosy was cleansed.  And Jesus said to him, "See that you tell no one; but go your way, show yourself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, as a testimony to them."  My study Bible comments that the biblical law concerning leprosy is found in Leviticus 13; 14.  Deuteronomy 24:8 describes the purification of lepers and leprous houses, a duty which was entrusted to the priests.  Leprosy was considered to be a direct punishment for sins, and as lepers were unclean, they were not permitted to live in the community or to worship in synagogues or the temple.  To touch the unclean was forbidden (Leviticus 7:21), but Jesus touched this leper, showing His compassion, and He also shows that He is not subject to the Law but rather over it.  To the clean, my study Bible tells us, nothing is unclean.  

Now when Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to Him, pleading with Him, saying, "Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, dreadfully tormented."  And Jesus said to him, "I will come and heal him."  I will come has traditionally been read as a question by many Greek scholars:  "Shall I come?"  At any rate, it teaches us that Jesus is ready to deal graciously with this Gentile and even to enter into his house, which would make Jesus unclean in the eyes of the Jews.

Now when Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to Him, pleading with Him, saying, "Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, dreadfully tormented."  And Jesus said to him, "I will come and heal him."  The centurion answered and sad, "Lord, I am not worthy that You should come under my roof.  But only speak a word, and my servant will be healed.  For I also am a man under authority, having soldiers under me.  And I say to this one, 'Go,' and he goes; and to another, 'Come,' and he comes; and to my servant, 'Do this,' and he does it."   This centurion expresses an unusual faith in calling Jesus, who is a Jew, Lord.  The statement, "Lord, I am not worthy that You should come under my roof," is a frequent quotation in liturgical texts, as it is an ideal expression of humility.  

When Jesus heard it, He marveled, and said to those who followed, "Assuredly, I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel!"   Only twice in the Gospels is it said that Jesus marveled.  He marveled at the unbelief in His hometown of Nazareth (Mark 6:6), and also at the belief of this foreigner. 

 

 "And I say to you that many will come from east and west, and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven.  But the sons of the kingdom will be cast into outer darkness.  There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."  Then Jesus said to the centurion, "Go your way; and as you have believed, so let it be done for you."  And his servant was healed that same hour.  Jesus' statement nullifies any ideas of ethnic superiority.  The rejects son of the kingdom are both the Jews who deny Christ also also those raised in the Church who do not live their faith.  My study Bible points out that outer darkness and weeping and gnashing are descriptions of the state of the unrighteous dead in Sheol (Hades) in the Jewish tradition (Enoch 103:8).   They are common expressions in Matthew (Matthew 13:42, 50; 22:13; 24:51; 25:30), and they also occur in Luke's Gospel (Luke 13:28). 

Now when Jesus had come into Peter's house, He saw his wife's mother lying sick with a fever.  So He touched her hand, and the fever left her.  And she arose and served them.  When evening had come, they brought to Him many who were demon-possessed.  And He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were sick, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying:  "He Himself took our infirmities and bore our sicknesses."  This passage and also 1 Corinthians 9:5 (in which Peter is called Cephas) give us indications that Peter was married.  My study Bible comments that Christ's healing miracles are diverse.  In this case, He heals by touch; in verse 13, He healed by a word.  This healing is immediate and complete, but others are gradual (Mark 8:22-25) or they require the cooperation of the person healed or of his loved ones (Luke 8:54-55).  As this quotation in today's final verse indicates, all of Jesus' miracles are manifestations of His redemption of ailing humanity.  

Jesus has just finished preaching the Sermon on the Mount, and now, going out into the world again, He puts into action the things which He has preached.  It is what we call love in action.  Note how faith determines everything.  The Roman centurion, a hated symbol of the Roman occupation is a noble person, and full of faith, such that Christ has not found such faith in the whole of Israel, and Jesus marvels.  It is poignant to us how it is faith that determines everything.  There is a kind of thread that runs through Christ's ministry, one that works behind the scenes, so to speak, as people respond with faith to Jesus.  And this is the key to His preaching.  It is the key to His gospel.  Note how the centurion begins with love:  he loves the man who is his servant.  There is nothing maudlin here, nothing untoward.  This centurion, a soldier in command and one of the great Roman occupying army, is a man of compassion and justice, and this is a lesson for us all.  Note how Jesus' love and compassion transcend everything else; the question of His authority will keep coming up.  This centurion, a man with many under his command, can recognize Jesus' authority, but there are so many who do not.  Let us ponder the transcendent realities given to us in the Gospels, the saving faith that speaks louder than words.  

We have seen strange things today!

 

Byzantine fresco, Platytera Ton Ouranon, "More spacious than the heavens," 14th cent.  St. Demetrius Church, Patriarchate of Pec, Serbia

 And it happened when He was in a certain city, that behold, a man who was full of leprosy saw Jesus; and he fell on his face and implored Him, saying, "Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean."  Then He put out His hand and touched him, saying, "I am willing; be cleansed."  Immediately the leprosy left him.  And He charged him to tell no one, "But go and show yourself to the priest, and make an offering for your cleansing, as a testimony to them, just as Moses commanded.  However, the report went around concerning Him all the more; and great multitudes came together to hear, and to be healed by Him of their infirmities.  So He Himself often withdrew into the wilderness and prayed.

Now it happened on a certain day, as He was teaching, that there were Pharisees and teachers of the law sitting by, who had come out of every town of Galilee, Judea, and Jerusalem.  And the power of the Lord was present to heal them.  Then behold, men brought on a bed a man who was paralyzed, whom they sought to bring in and lay before Him.  And when they could not find how they might bring him in, because of the crowd, they went up on the housetop and let him down with his bed through the tiling into the midst before Jesus.  When He saw their faith, He said to him, "Man, your sins are forgiven you."  And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, "Who is this who speaks blasphemies?  Who can forgive sins but God alone?"  But when Jesus perceived their thoughts, He answered and said to them, "Why are you reasoning in your hearts?  Which is easier, to say, 'Your sins are forgiven you,' or to say, 'Rise up and walk'?  But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins" -- He said to the man who was paralyzed, "I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house."  Immediately he rose up before them, took up what he had been lying on, and departed to his own house, glorifying God.  And they were all amazed, and they glorified God and were filled with fear, saying, "We have seen strange things today!"

 

- Luke 5:12-26 

 

 Yesterday we read that, so it was, as the multitude pressed about Him to hear the word of God, that Jesus stood by the Lake of Gennesaret, and saw two boats standing by the lake; but the fishermen had gone from them and were washing their nets.  Then He got into one of the boats, which was Simon's, and asked him to put out a little from the land.  And He sat down and taught the multitudes from the boat.  When He had stopped speaking, He said to Simon, "Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch."  But Simon answered and said to Him, "Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net."  And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking.  So they signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them.  And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink.  When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, "Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!"  For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish which they had taken; and so also were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon.  And Jesus said to Simon, "Do not be afraid.  From now on you will catch men."  So when they had brought their boats to land, they forsook all and followed Him.

 

  And it happened when He was in a certain city, that behold, a man who was full of leprosy saw Jesus; and he fell on his face and implored Him, saying, "Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean."  My study Bible explains that leprosy was one of the most dreaded diseases of Jesus' time.  It brought great physical suffering, as well as total banishment and isolation from society.  So, the person would be cast out from community.  It is also a symbol of our sin.

Then He put out His hand and touched him, saying, "I am willing; be cleansed."  Immediately the leprosy left him.  And He charged him to tell no one, "But go and show yourself to the priest, and make an offering for your cleansing, as a testimony to them, just as Moses commanded."   The priests were in charge of the care of lepers and leprous houses, including issuing a certificate of cleansing, so that the people could again participate in community (see Leviticus 13, 14).  My study Bible cites St. Cyril of Alexandria, who comments that Jesus gave the command to show yourself to the priest in order to convince the priests by a tangible miracle that He is superior to Moses.  The priests hold Moses to be greater than Christ, yet Christ heals a leper immediately and with His own divine authority.  However, when Miriam was struck with leprosy, Moses had to seek mercy from above, and still she was only healed after seven days (Numbers 12:10-15).  

However, the report went around concerning Him all the more; and great multitudes came together to hear, and to be healed by Him of their infirmities.  So He Himself often withdrew into the wilderness and prayed.  Let us note that even Christ needs regular time for withdrawal in solitude in order to pray.

Now it happened on a certain day, as He was teaching, that there were Pharisees and teachers of the law sitting by, who had come out of every town of Galilee, Judea, and Jerusalem.  And the power of the Lord was present to heal them.   Here the text introduces us to members of the ruling establishment of the Jews, and they have come from all over Israel.  They will be witness to what happens, and are no doubt present to observe the ministry of Jesus, which by now is well-known.

 

 Then behold, men brought on a bed a man who was paralyzed, whom they sought to bring in and lay before Him.  And when they could not find how they might bring him in, because of the crowd, they went up on the housetop and let him down with his bed through the tiling into the midst before Jesus.  When He saw their faith, He said to him, "Man, your sins are forgiven you."   And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, "Who is this who speaks blasphemies?  Who can forgive sins but God alone?"  But when Jesus perceived their thoughts, He answered and said to them, "Why are you reasoning in your hearts?  Which is easier, to say, 'Your sins are forgiven you,' or to say, 'Rise up and walk'?  But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins" -- He said to the man who was paralyzed, "I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house."  Immediately he rose up before them, took up what he had been lying on, and departed to his own house, glorifying God.  And they were all amazed, and they glorified God and were filled with fear, saying, "We have seen strange things today!"  My study Bible comments that, as shown by the healing of the paralytic, faith is an indispensable condition for salvation.  Faith is collective as well as personal, for, as we can see, the faith of the paralytic's friends helped in his healing.  There are there signs of Christ's divinity that are manifest here.  First, that He knows the secrets of hearts (see 1 Samuel 16:7; 2 Chronicles 6:30).  Second, Christ forgives sins, which is a power that belongs to God alone.  Finally, Jesus heals by the power of His word.

It's quite interesting to begin to observe the responses of the scribes and Pharisees to Christ.  The good news of forgiveness is met with indignance.  "Who is this who speaks blasphemies?  Who can forgive sins but God alone?"  Well, I suppose it is a reasonable theological objection, although by now everyone must be aware that Christ is no ordinary Man.  But Jesus Himself responds to this criticism seemingly as if He understands how it seems reasonable to them, and within their own "bailiwick" of regulating the faith and training and instructing the people.  So He responds with a deeper challenge, plunging right into His own way of responding with the truth.  "Why are you reasoning in your hearts?  Which is easier, to say, 'Your sins are forgiven you,' or to say, 'Rise up and walk'?  But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins" -- He said to the man who was paralyzed, "I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house."  We can simply imagine the response of the religious leaders.  One imagines they were simply stupefied and unprepared for what they saw, possibly responding with the rest of the people, "We have seen strange things today!"  That word that is translated as "strange" (in strange things) is παράδοξος/paradoxos in Greek.  And yes, that is the root of the word we use in English, "paradox."  In Greek the form is plural, as in strange or remarkable things, but "strange" and "remarkable" don't quite get the full impact of paradox.  What they've seen are things that are totally unexpected and out of the ordinary, as if right smack into the middle of normal life is something so inexplicable as to be seemingly contrary to all we think we know.  That's what it's like to witness one of the miracles or signs of Christ.  And the word is significant, because for the early Christian Church, there was nothing which so defined the divine, and especially the workings of the Trinity, especially the signs of God working among us, as paradox.  In the Eastern Church, hymns are filled with paradoxical images in order to open to us the things of God.  One of the names for the Virgin Mary, for example, is Platytera.   It is the name of a particular icon as well.  It means "wider" or "more spacious."  But because she held the Creator of the Universe in her womb, she is called Platytera ton ouranon, meaning "More spacious than the heavens."  The ultimate paradox, of course, is Crucifixion and Resurrection.  They are inseparable enough so that the Cross means for us Resurrection, and all that this entails, including the banishing of the evil one.  The Eastern Orthodox hymn in the Resurrection service of Easter declares, "Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death, granting life to those in the tombs."   How can we understand this in purely human terms or from worldly expectation?  We can't.  And yet it is true, by dying on the Cross, He trampled death ("the last enemy" - 1 Corinthians 15:26).  And this is not so only for those who would come, but for those "in the tombs" awaiting their own liberation.  What we see on the Cross, which looks like horrific shameful defeat in human terms, is truly the greatest victory of all over the most lethal weapons of the enemy and accuser.  So powerful is the notion of paradox, and so central to our faith it is, that this is the way the early Church found to express the deepest wonders of God, and to open up to us what is ultimately unknowable in its fullness.  But that is precisely what Christ has brought to us -- the strange, unexpected, paradoxical reality we cannot just blink away or rationalize in some odd kind of "reasonable" explanation.  In Shakespeare's "Hamlet," Hamlet is told by his father's ghost of the treachery of his mother and uncle.  His friend from the University of Wittenberg (which was known for the shift from theology to humanism), Horatio, responds with words which might be taken right out of our text, calling this encounter "wondrous strange."  Hamlet responds, "And therefore as a stranger give it welcome. There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy."  Paradox is the one way to describe the surprising work of God, even in our midst, which surpasses our expectations and defies all categories and limitations.  For just as Christ is both God and man (another extraordinary paradox), so even we carry the kingdom of heaven within us and among us (Luke 17:20-21).

 

 

 

 

I am willing; be cleansed

 And so it was, when Jesus had ended these sayings, that the people were astonished at His teaching, for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.

When He had come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed Him.  And behold, a leper came and worshiped Him, saying, "Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean."  Then Jesus put out His hand and touched him, saying, "I am willing; be cleansed."  Immediately his leprosy was cleansed.  And Jesus said to him, "See that you tell no one; but go your way, show yourself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, as a testimony to them."

- Matthew 7:28-8:4

In yesterday's reading, Jesus concluded the Sermon on the Mount:   "Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?'  And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!'  Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock:  and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.  But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand:  and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, and it fell.  And great was its fall."

 And so it was, when Jesus had ended these sayings, that the people were astonished at His teaching, for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.   As Jesus concludes the Sermon on the Mount, people are astonished at His teaching.  This is not because of the things He teaches, but rather because of the impact of His Person in teaching.  That is, He teaches as one having authority, and not as the scribes.  He possesses authority within Himself.  The scribes would cite famous rabbis for their teachings, and speak in the third person; but Jesus teaches the doctrine of His Father in heaven.  In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus speaks of the Law and the Prophets, but also adds, "I say to you."

When He had come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed Him.  And behold, a leper came and worshiped Him, saying, "Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean."  Then Jesus put out His hand and touched him, saying, "I am willing; be cleansed."  Immediately his leprosy was cleansed.  And Jesus said to him, "See that you tell no one; but go your way, show yourself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, as a testimony to them."  My study bible explains that the biblical law which concerned leprosy is found in Leviticus 13 and 14.  Deuteronomy 24:8 is a description of the purification of lepers and leprous houses, a duty entrusted to the priests.   It adds that leprosy was considered to be a direct punishment for sins, and as lepers were designated unclean, they were not permitted to live in the community or to worship in synagogues or the temple.  Although touching the unclean was forbidden (Leviticus 7:21), Jesus touched the leper.  This is an expression of God's compassion, and also an extension of Christ's authority perceived by the crowds who heard Him preach the Sermon on the Mount.  My study bible calls it an expression of the fact that He is not subject to the Law but over it.  It adds, "To the clean, nothing is unclean."

One thing that we can note about Jesus is always His impulse to expand community.  The sort of guidelines or limits or barriers around community that might form expectations or understanding are abolished in Him.  They are reshaped, reformed, redefined.  In this case, a leper, who is considered to be unclean under the Law, comes to Him in faith.   As the verses that form this story of the leper indicate, Jesus has just come down from this elevated high place on which He's given the Sermon on the Mount.  Great multitudes, the text says, are following Him, and it is in this context that the leper approaches Him to worship Him.  This word for "worship" in the Greek literally indicates a position of prostration, bowing one's head to the ground.  Perhaps the leper hid himself in the crowd to hear Jesus speak; perhaps he has heard of Jesus' teaching from these crowds.  But whatever the reason, Jesus has just finished expressing His own "fullness" of the Law and the Prophets (see especially 5:17-48).  In that context, we might consider this action of healing the leper to be one more extension of "you have heard that it was said to those of old . . . but I say to you . . .."   For although the Law prohibits touching what is unclean, Jesus reaches with His touch to heal the leper.  Note that this is an expression of the fulfillment of the Law, for Jesus does not say, "I am willing; be healed," but "I am willing; be cleansed."  If the true objective of the Law is for the community to be clean, Jesus' action of touching and healing achieves this goal in ways the Law could not envision.  He changes our entire perspective on community by doing so, for the unclean has become the clean through a forbidden touch.  It reminds us of the ultimate mystery of Christ's Passion, death, and Resurrection, by which death is destroyed through death.  Jesus' boundaries are those of the divine and not the earthly.  His extension of community happens through divine work in the world, through adoption via faith.  His expansion of definition of community is given to us in the story of the Good Samaritan, in which it is the one who acts as a neighbor who is truly a neighbor.  It is a foreign female, a Samaritan woman, and one who is a sinner, with whom He breaks all taboos by first speaking to her alone, and to whom He first fully reveals Himself as Messiah in John's Gospel.  She then becomes, in effect, the first evangelist to her own neighbors (John 4:1-42).  We should keep in mind that Jesus upholds the Law by instructing the healed leper to follow the precepts of the Law by showing himself to a priest, and offering the gift that Moses commanded.  But Jesus fulfills the Law also by inviting into the world His own expressions of rules, laws, boundaries, and expansion of community.  This is a fulfillment of the Law that works through faith and the power of grace which He brings into the world.  We are expected, in turn, to pay attention, to come to understand, and to be willing ourselves to be changed through His power and grace and through faith.  Let us remember that we get there not so much through remembering rules as we do via a prayerfully lived life, in which each new encounter must be approached with our own willingness to be changed and healed through the perception He offers us.   Keep in mind that Jesus teaches that those who are with Him gather, and those who are against Him scatter (12:30) -- even as He castigates the leadership for their failure to accept His teaching.  So we are led to cast off things of which we were certain, and to accept that which we might have excluded, through a life of prayer and growth in His teaching and grace.

Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine? Were there not any found who returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?

 Now it happened as He went to Jerusalem that He passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee.  Then as He entered a certain village, there met Him ten men who were lepers, who stood afar off.  And they lifted up their voices and said, "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!"  So when He saw them, He said to them, "Go, show yourselves to the priests."  And so it was that as they went, they were cleansed.  And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, returned, and with a loud voice glorified God, and fell down on his face at His feet, giving Him thanks.  And he was a Samaritan.  So Jesus answered and said, "Were there not ten cleansed?  But where are the nine?  Were there not any found who returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?"  And He said to him, "Arise, go your way.  Your faith has made you well."

- Luke 17:11-19

Yesterday we read that Jesus said to the disciples, "It is impossible that no offenses should come, but woe to him through whom they do come!  It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones.  Take heed to yourselves.  If your brother sins against you, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him.  And if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day returns to you, saying, 'I repent,' you shall forgive him."  And the apostles said to the Lord, "Increase our faith."  So the Lord said, "If you have faith as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, 'Be pulled up by the roots and be planted in the sea,' and it would obey you. And which of you, having a servant plowing or tending sheep, will say to him when he has come in from the field, 'Come at once and sit down to eat'?  But will he not rather say to him, 'Prepare something for my supper, and gird yourself and serve me till I have eaten and drunk, and afterward you will eat and drink'?  Does he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him?  I think not.  So likewise you, when you have done all those things which you are commanded, say, 'We are unprofitable servants.  We have done what was our duty to do."

Now it happened as He went to Jerusalem that He passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee.  Then as He entered a certain village, there met Him ten men who were lepers, who stood afar off.  And they lifted up their voices and said, "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!"  Leprosy was one of the most dreaded disease of Christ's time; it meant total isolation from the community (we note that these ten leprous men stood afar off).   It's clear they recognize something about Christ; their prayer, "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!" makes that clear.

So when He saw them, He said to them, "Go, show yourselves to the priests." As in an earlier healing of leprosy in Luke's Gospel (Luke 5:12-15), Jesus sends these men to the priests.  It was required by Mosaic Law to receive a certificate from a priest in order to re-enter into the society and religious community.  But this also would have the effect of making the priests aware of Christ's healing power and authority, which was greater than that of Moses himself.  (See Numbers 12:10-15.)

And so it was that as they went, they were cleansed.  And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, returned, and with a loud voice glorified God, and fell down on his face at His feet, giving Him thanks.  And he was a Samaritan.  So Jesus answered and said, "Were there not ten cleansed?  But where are the nine?  Were there not any found who returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?"  And He said to him, "Arise, go your way.  Your faith has made you well."  My study bible says that Christ came to heal all of fallen humanity, yet only a small portion receive Him in faith and thanksgiving to give glory to God.  Thus, many are called, but few chosen" (Matthew 20:16).  For the faithful, worship is the number one priority; it is the recognition of every good and perfect gift (James 1:17).  Jesus repeats here what He has said to others, "Your faith has made you well."

Studies on gratitude show its positive effect in our lives.  This thoughtful article published by Harvard Medical School interprets data from such studies to include the interpersonal meanings and connections that form as part of a state of gratitude, including exercises in which someone is specifically thanked, and the effects of doing so on one's own sense of well-being.  We often hear that to have "an attitude of gratitude" is a good thing, but it's also true that we can choose to be generally grateful for possessions such as material things we have, as well as, for example, good health, or for coming through a difficult situation relatively well, without necessarily thinking about the source of those good things.  But the Harvard article explains that having a thankful attitude toward the source of those things for which we're grateful is at least as important as the gratitude itself in determining our own sense of well-being.  To quote the article regarding one such exercise, "When their week's assignment was to write and personally deliver a letter of gratitude to someone who had never been properly thanked for his or her kindness, participants immediately exhibited a huge increase in happiness scores. This impact was greater than that from any other intervention, with benefits lasting for a month."  In our reading for today, Jesus teaches the one leper who came back to Him with gratitude for his healing that "your faith has made you well."  In this context, we may connect faith with the state of gratitude.  It is one thing to cultivate a personal list of things we're grateful for, but it's another to focus on the object of gratitude, the one to whom we're grateful.  As the Harvard Medical School article indicates, to do the latter is to truly reap the possible benefits of gratitude, and those include a better sense of interpersonal relationships.  I would suggest that through faith, the leper's relationship to God was bolstered exponentially through one act of gratitude, thus, as Christ indicated, impacting the quality of his entire life.  To view Jesus' words, "Go your way, your faith has made you well," in this light is to come to terms with the great gifts possible through a life of faith.  Of course, "gratitude" is rooted in the word  for "grace," a recognition of blessings from God.  To really understand gratitude, we have to know true righteousness, or right-relatedness.  Gratitude, when we practice it properly in recognizing the source of grace -- God as well as other human beings (and, one supposes, other beloved creatures!) -- becomes an exercise in cultivating "right relationships."  Our own place in the universe, in our own world, our community, becomes enhanced and set down in a proper place.  Our understanding of our own basic reality becomes more full.  Let us remember that it's not simply the having that gives us real happiness and benefits, but rather the recognition of those from whom our good things come.  In this way we enhance our own lives by recognizing the sources of the good we have.  One may even find quite often in this perspective that even nominally "bad" experiences can become sources for gratitude, and that gifts flow in an abundance not usually recognized.  May our faith truly make us well, as Christ said.

Great multitudes came together to hear, and to be healed by Him of their infirmities. So He Himself often withdrew into the wilderness and prayed

 And it happened when He was in a certain city, that behold, a man who was full of leprosy saw Jesus; and he fell on his face and implored Him, saying, "Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean."  Then He put out His hand and touched him, saying, "I am willing; be cleansed."  Immediately the leprosy left him.  And He charged him to tell no one, "But go and show yourself to the priest, and make an offering for your cleansing, as a testimony to them, just as Moses commanded."  However, the report went around concerning Him all the more; and great multitudes came together to hear, and to be healed by Him of their infirmities.  So He Himself often withdrew into the wilderness and prayed.

Now it happened on a certain day, as He was teaching, that there were Pharisees and teachers of the law sitting by, who had come out of every town of Galilee, Judea, and Jerusalem.  And the power of the Lord was present to heal them.  Then behold, men brought on a bed a man who was paralyzed, whom they sought to bring in and lay before Him.  And when they could not find how they might bring him in, because of the crowd, they went up on the housetop and let him down with his bed through the tiling into the midst before Jesus.  When He saw their faith, He said to him, "Man, your sins are forgiven you."  And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, "Who is this who speaks blasphemies?  Who can forgive sins but God alone?"  But when Jesus perceived their thoughts, He answered and said to them, "Why are you reasoning in your hearts?  Which is easier, to say, 'Your sins are forgiven you,' or to say, 'Rise up and walk'?  But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins" -- He said to the man who was paralyzed, "I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house."  Immediately he rose up before them, took up what he had been lying on, and departed to his own house, glorifying God.  And they were all amazed, and they glorified God and were filled with fear, saying, "We have seen strange things today!"

- Luke 5:12-26

 Yesterday we read that, as the multitude pressed about Jesus to hear the word of God, He stood by the Lake of Gennesaret, and saw two boats standing by the lake; but the fishermen had gone from them and were washing their nets.  Then He got into one of the boats, which was Simon's, and asked him to put out a little from the land.  And He sat down and taught the multitudes from the boat.  When He had stopped speaking, He said to Simon, "Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch."  But Simon answered and said to Him, "Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net."  And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking.  So they signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them.  And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink.  When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, "Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!"  For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish which they had taken; and so also were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon.  And Jesus said to Simon, "Do not be afraid.  From now on you will catch men."  So when they had brought their boats to land, they forsook all and followed Him.

And it happened when He was in a certain city, that behold, a man who was full of leprosy saw Jesus; and he fell on his face and implored Him, saying, "Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean."  Then He put out His hand and touched him, saying, "I am willing; be cleansed."  Immediately the leprosy left him.  Leprosy, says my study bible, was one of the most dreaded diseases of Jesus' time.  It brought not only tremendous physical suffering, but also meant total banishment and isolation from society.  It is also seen as a symbol of our sin.  To touch a leper was prohibited, but Jesus' heals the man by touch.

And He charged him to tell no one, "But go and show yourself to the priest, and make an offering for your cleansing, as a testimony to them, just as Moses commanded."   Jesus is respectful of the Law, and sends the man to a priest as is required for his re-entry into the community.  My study bible notes the commentary of Cyril of Alexandria, who writes that Jesus gives this command in order to convince the priests by a tangible miracle that He is superior to Moses.  The priests hold Moses to be greater than Christ, but Christ heals a leper immediately and with His own divine authority.  When Miriam (Moses' sister) was struck with leprosy, Moses had to seek mercy from above, and even then she was only healed after seven days (Numbers 12:10-15).

However, the report went around concerning Him all the more; and great multitudes came together to hear, and to be healed by Him of their infirmities.  So He Himself often withdrew into the wilderness and prayed.  It's important to understand Jesus' humanity and also His discernment and constant connection to the Father.  He withdraws often into the wilderness for prayer.   So should we do likewise, as we all need time alone for prayer and to take rest in prayer.

Now it happened on a certain day, as He was teaching, that there were Pharisees and teachers of the law sitting by, who had come out of every town of Galilee, Judea, and Jerusalem.  And the power of the Lord was present to heal them.   Matthew's Gospel sets this passage in Capernaum, calling it "His own city" (Matthew 9:1).  By now Jesus' fame is so well-spread, that those authorities have come from all over Israel to His "headquarters" (most likely the family home of Simon Peter) to hear Him.

Then behold, men brought on a bed a man who was paralyzed, whom they sought to bring in and lay before Him.  And when they could not find how they might bring him in, because of the crowd, they went up on the housetop and let him down with his bed through the tiling into the midst before Jesus.  When He saw their faith, He said to him, "Man, your sins are forgiven you."  Here is a faith exhibited not only in the paralytic but even in his friends, who help him with every effort to get to Jesus.  My study bible says that this particular miracle shows us that faith is an indispensable condition for salvation.  Faith, in fact, is collective as well as personal -- a notable reality of the Kingdom -- for the faith of this paralytic's friends helped in his healing.  The acts of these friends can be seen as similar to those who pray for others in all situations; even our prayers for the dead are considered to be effective appeals to the mercy of God.

And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, "Who is this who speaks blasphemies?  Who can forgive sins but God alone?"  But when Jesus perceived their thoughts, He answered and said to them, "Why are you reasoning in your hearts?  Which is easier, to say, 'Your sins are forgiven you,' or to say, 'Rise up and walk'?  But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins" -- He said to the man who was paralyzed, "I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house."  Immediately he rose up before them, took up what he had been lying on, and departed to his own house, glorifying God.  And they were all amazed, and they glorified God and were filled with fear, saying, "We have seen strange things today!"   There are three signs of Jesus' divinity exhibited in today's passage.  First, He knows the secrets of hearts (see 1 Samuel 16:7; 2 Chronicles 6:30).  Second, He forgives sins, which is a power that belongs to God alone.  And finally, He heals by the power of His word.

It's important to note that Jesus rests and withdraws for prayer, and that He does so often and into the wilderness.  That is, into a deserted place away from people.  We all need this.  If even Jesus, the Christ or Messiah, needs this for Himself, one can only imagine how badly we need it, not only for direction in our lives, and guidance, but even for proper rest and withdrawal from a busy, social life.  There are multitudes coming to see Jesus.  His ministry has reached a place where it may be seen in modern terms as "successful," but what we really learn is how word about Him has spread, and how much He is in demand.  All sorts come to Him now for healing, and to hear Him as well.  By worldly standards, we are often set to think that as much work as one can do as possible is simply the one and only really "good" thing.  We might even think in terms of "doing good" in the world, good works, healing and preaching, that we would admire Jesus for being so busy all the time, and responding to all the needs and demands that come to Him from the world.  But that's not really the example that Jesus sets here.  The Gospel tells us not only that He would withdraw away from people, into the wilderness, and to pray, but even that He would do so often.  We can't quite get it into our worldly heads and understanding that this, too, is part of ministry, part of healing the world.  It's that divine connection with God, with the Kingdom of heaven, that we find in prayer and withdrawal from social life that functions not just as a sort of reset button, not just as refreshment and renewal, but that in fact creates the conditions within which we are able to serve God.  To dwell within this place of relationship, to abide in Him (and in the Holy Trinity) is to live in a place from which we are capable of bringing God's love into the world and all that means for the world, as embodied in Jesus Christ.  To withdraw into the wilderness isn't merely a response to the demands put upon Him in terms of needing rest.  It is, on the contrary, a place for Christ to go in order to direct His ministry from here, to conduct it as He needs to, to respond to the conditions of the ministry as He is called to do, and to discern what He needs to do going forward.  And we should take this all to heart for our own lives as Christians and as followers of Christ.  For us, taking rest "in Him" becomes a way to find ourselves and find direction for what we do with our lives, as well as personal renewal.  To sit contemplatively in a church service may function for us the same way, renewal that is available in those times of "collective faith" that my study bible speaks of.  All of this is reinforcement of the Kingdom in the world, the place in which we wish to dwell, and it is not merely a response to busy-ness and a demanding life.  Rather, it is the place where we may nurture the seeds of the Kingdom, renew our direction and intentions, forgive what we need to forgive, and spend time with God in the embrace of God's love and grace.  What we should understand is that in the terms of the holy, this is the place where beauty is, and where we may become a part of it and abide in it, and be a part of it in the world.  Let us follow and learn from His example, for all gifts come from there.

I am willing; be cleansed

 Now as soon as they had come out of the synagogue, they entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John.  But Simon's wife's mother lay sick with a fever, and they told Him about her at once.  So He came and took her by the hand and lifted her up, and immediately the fever left her.  And she served them.  At evening, when the sun had set, they brought to Him all who were sick and those who were demon-possessed.  And the whole city was gathered together at the door.  Then He healed many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons; and He did not allow the demons to speak, because they knew Him.

Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed.  And Simon and those who were with Him searched for Him.  When they found Him, they said to Him, "Everyone is looking for You."  But He said to them, "Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also, because for this purpose I have come forth."  And He was preaching in their synagogues throughout all Galilee, and casting out demons.

Now a leper came to Him, imploring Him, kneeling down to Him and saying to Him, "If You are willing, You can make me clean."  Then Jesus, moved with compassion, stretched out His hand and touched him, and said to him, "I am willing; be cleansed."  As soon as He had spoken immediately the leprosy left him, and he was cleansed.  And He strictly warned him and sent him away at once, and said to him, "See that you say nothing to anyone; but go your way, show yourself to the priest, and offer for your cleansing those things which Moses commanded, as a testimony to them."  However, he went out and began to proclaim it freely, and to spread the matter, so that Jesus could no longer openly enter the city, but was outside in deserted places; and they came to Him from every direction.

- Mark 1:29-45

Yesterday we read that after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand.  Repent, and believe in the gospel."  And as He walked by the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen.  Then Jesus said to them, "Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men."  They immediately left their nets and followed Him.  When He had gone a little further from there, He saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who also were in the boat mending their nets.  And immediately He called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants, and went after Him.  Then they went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath He entered the synagogue and taught.  And they were astonished at His teaching, for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.  Now there was a man in their synagogue with an unclean spirit.  And he cried out, saying, "Let us alone!  What have we to do with You, Jesus of Nazareth?  Did you come to destroy us?  I know who You are -- the Holy One of God!"  But Jesus rebuked him, saying, "Be quiet, and come out of him!"  And when the unclean spirit had convulsed him and cried out with a loud voice, he came out of him.  Then they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, "What is this?  What new doctrine is this?  For with authority He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey Him."  And immediately His fame spread throughout all the region around Galilee.

Now as soon as they had come out of the synagogue, they entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John.  But Simon's wife's mother lay sick with a fever, and they told Him about her at once.  So He came and took her by the hand and lifted her up, and immediately the fever left her.  And she served them.  At evening, when the sun had set, they brought to Him all who were sick and those who were demon-possessed.  And the whole city was gathered together at the door.  Then He healed many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons; and He did not allow the demons to speak, because they knew Him.  Although Mark's Gospel is brief, and runs through the events of Jesus' ministry very quickly, here we are given a day in the life of this ministry.  Jesus first speaks in the synagogue, and then comes to His "headquarters" at Peter's family home.  The details we're given tell us about Peter's extended family, what kind of home this is in which He  stays and welcomes those coming to Him.  Peter's mother-in-law is a person honored here; she is restored to her place in the home by Christ.  My study bible notes that not allowing the demons to speak is an important piece of this ministry.  For Christ to reveal Himself as Messiah will be a long process of teaching just what this means, contrary to popular expectations of a political messiah.  Through misunderstandings, conflict with the authorities, and Christ's desire for true faith, His ministry will teach His identity.

 Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed.  And Simon and those who were with Him searched for Him.  When they found Him, they said to Him, "Everyone is looking for You."  But He said to them, "Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also, because for this purpose I have come forth."  And He was preaching in their synagogues throughout all Galilee, and casting out demons.   My study bible says that Jesus sets forth here an example for all of us of spiritual life.  Although He is God incarnate, He prayed continually, often finding a solitary place to be free from distraction, despite the multitude's need of Him.  The ministry of Christ comes from His communication with the Father and the Holy Spirit, and it flows to people in their needs.  He prays in the morning, teaching us that we put first as priority our commitment to God; then we'll be equipped to serve others.  We note in His instructions to the disciples an unswerving course from what He is meant to do, regardless of demands around Him.

Now a leper came to Him, imploring Him, kneeling down to Him and saying to Him, "If You are willing, You can make me clean."  Then Jesus, moved with compassion, stretched out His hand and touched him, and said to him, "I am willing; be cleansed."  As soon as He had spoken immediately the leprosy left him, and he was cleansed.  And He strictly warned him and sent him away at once, and said to him, "See that you say nothing to anyone; but go your way, show yourself to the priest, and offer for your cleansing those things which Moses commanded, as a testimony to them."  However, he went out and began to proclaim it freely, and to spread the matter, so that Jesus could no longer openly enter the city, but was outside in deserted places; and they came to Him from every direction.  Leviticus 13 and 14 contain the biblical law concerning leprosy;  Deuteronomy 24:8 describes the purification of lepers and leprous houses as a duty entrusted to the priests.  Lepers were not permitted to live in the community or worship in synagogues or the temple; they were considered unclean.  Leviticus 7:21 forbids touching the unclean.  Here Jesus touches the leper, showing His compassion.  My study bible says, "To the clean, nothing is unclean."  

Healing becomes an immediate sign of Jesus' ministry and work.  First He preaches, we see the effect of His presence on the unclean demons, and then He goes to Peter's house, where Peter's mother-in-law is sick with fever.  Healing becomes a metaphor for salvation, in the sense that what Christ is here to offer us is actually healing on all levels.  That is, spiritually, physically, mentally, emotionally.  All of the orientation toward Christ and this Kingdom He brings in His presence is meant to evoke a radical healing on all levels and of all sorts.  That He will give His flesh for the life of the world is a promise of every level, and in all ways (John 6:51).   That this mission is for the life of the world we may also see in Jesus' use of the solitary place to which He withdraws for prayer, presumably far from the town.  Away from the town, this is likely the wilderness, an environment in which Jesus has already faced temptation, to which He now goes to be in depth of communion with the Father and the Holy Spirit.  (We may also contrast this with the evidence of the unclean spirit in yesterday's reading, which made itself known in the synagogue.)   There is no place exempt from the presence of Christ and this healing ministry, the work of God.  In the leper we can see a radical level of healing, for leprosy was viewed not simply as a dread disease, but also as a sign of sin, and of uncleanness in the eyes of the Law.  Christ's touch is a depth of personal "communion" that also teaches us about the healing nature of this presence and our own communion with it, a radical redesigning of the Law but with the ultimate purpose and goal of the Law in mind.  That is, a healing and orientation of the community toward God and thus its true good.  As in the context of the story of the leper, this would include cleansing us of whatever ails, oppresses, causes pain or loss, any kind of limitation of life.  That is the true nature of a process of repentance, metanoia.  Viewed in each dimension expressed in today's reading, the Gospel becomes a wholistic vision of the facets in which we all need to be healed, whatever the problem we face in the world.  What limits life?  What makes us unable to take our rightful places in life?  Peter's mother-in-law is restored in her home; the leper is restored in the community.  Alongside all of this is mystery.  Jesus' withdrawal away from the people for prayer is also an image of mystery, of the "withdrawing" of God.  It is a paradoxical understanding that it is with the mystery of God that we find God's presence -- that without that withdrawal, the clear understanding of the real nature of Messiah, and of salvation, could not become properly known.  In the life of the Church, mystery remains paramount for our own sense of communion, of prayer, and of participation in the life of the kingdom of God.  This is the scope of the healing nature of God, from the worldly and all that is in it, to the divine and its mysteries.  With Christ, we may share ("participate") in all of it, for the life in abundance that He promised.

Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean

And so it was, when Jesus had ended these sayings, that the people were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.

When he had come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed him. And behold, a leper came and worshiped him, saying, "Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean." Then Jesus put out his hand and touched him, saying, "I am willing; be cleansed." Immediately his leprosy was cleansed. And Jesus said to him, "See that you tell no one; but go your way, show yourself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, as a testimony to them."

- Matthew 7:28 - 8:4

We are now at the conclusion to the Sermon on the Mount, and included in today's reading is the beginning of Matthew's witness to Jesus' healing ministry. For all the readings of the Sermon on the Mount, see readings and commentary from Monday, April 26th through Saturday, May 8th, 2010 - beginning with The Beatitudes and ending with The Narrow Gate, and yesterday's reading, Build your house upon the rock.

And so it was, when Jesus had ended these sayings, that the people were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. In yesterday's reading and commentary, I noted from my study bible that Jesus' words portrayed a threefold testimony to his own deity - in his use of the word "Lord" in reference to himself, in the phrase "the will of my Father," and in his teaching on his future judgment. In today's reading, this section gives us the perspective of those who are listening to the sermon. Jesus teaches as "one having authority, and not as the scribes." This is the perspective of witness - Jesus has no credentials, does not cite anyone else's opinions or any other great teacher he has followed as reference for what he teaches, which would confer authority. He does not have "worldly" authority - and yet he teaches as one that does; there is a presence in and of himself to be reckoned with.

When he had come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed him. I note this sentence in reference to yesterday's feast day - Ascension Day. The Sermon on the Mount is yet another "mountaintop" experience, (as my friend Fr. Vazken Movsesian has reminded me in his recent podcast). In the context of Ascension Day, we recall that it is here that Jesus draws us closer to the kingdom of heaven. On Ascension Day, he took our nature to the Father, and draws us with him, into salvation and reconciliation. The Sermon on the Mount gives us what Jesus calls (in yesterday's reading) "these sayings of mine" that draw us to the kingdom, that initiate us as his disciples and bring us into reconciliation: God to humanity, and humanity to God. On this mountaintop, Jesus has taught us that we "shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect."

And behold, a leper came and worshiped him, saying, "Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean." Then Jesus put out his hand and touched him, saying, "I am willing; be cleansed." Immediately his leprosy was cleansed. And Jesus said to him, "See that you tell no one; but go your way, show yourself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, as a testimony to them." My study bible notes, "The biblical law concerning leprosy is found in Lev. 13;14. Deuteronomy 24:8 describes the purification of lepers and leprous houses, which is a duty entrusted to the priests. Leprosy was considered a direct punishment for sins, and lepers were unclean, not permitted to live in the community or to worship God in synagogues or the temple. Touching the unclean was forbidden under Mosaic Law (Lev. 7:21). Jesus touched (v. 3) the leper, showing his compassion, and demonstrating he is not subject to the Law but over it. To the clean there is nothing unclean." Immediately upon finishing the Sermon on the Mount, and coming down from the mountain, Jesus performs a healing act on one whose affliction is considered a direct punishment for sins, and so unclean that he was not permitted to live in community nor to worship God in synagogues or the temple. This is his first act following his teachings of love in action - a demonstration of all that he has just taught, his summing up of the fulfillment of the Law and Prophets. (We note, also, that he tells the healed leper to act in accordance with the Law, to "show yourself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.")

Jesus' first act, then, is one of love in action, and also is an act of authority - as one who is not bound by the Law but who instead fulfills it in himself. He also asks the healed leper not to tell anyone. His authority is all in all - he needs no one to testify to it; his acts (as did his teaching) convey authority in themselves. His identity is his own, and comes from a source that does not need "worldly" authentication.

But the most striking thing about this reading for me is this wonderful phrase from my study bible: "To the clean there is nothing unclean." Jesus will teach this to us himself. In Matthew chapter 15, he will teach us that it is what comes out of a person that defiles, not what goes in. Compassion, then, is the central role here, demonstrating love in action. Those who are clean, who follow "these sayings of mine" and sincerely seek union with the Father have no need to fear contamination by touch. Those who seek to heal, who practice love, and seek to do the Father's will - to become like him and in his image - need have no fear through association, "touch." It is an important insight and understanding, and one that defines what we know of Christian action, and redemption. It goes to the heart of how we judge, and who we wish to be or to become ourselves. How often our judgment works by association!

Christ also feels no fear of the crowds' opinions about him. He neither fears what people will say because he has violated the law in the spirit of compassion, nor that he associates with the "unclean." And again, we know that there are many times in the gospels when Jesus will demonstrate this in various forms. In a bible study I recently attended (by Deacon Shant Kazanjian), we were studying the prayers of women in the bible. There is the reflection of the same theme in comparing the joyous prayer of Hannah (1 Sam. 2:1-10) and the Magnificat of Mary (Luke 1:46-55). In both prayers, the theme is that the work of the Lord is to reverse an order: the lowly are lifted, the afflicted are healed. This is the work of salvation - and it is a common theme throughout Scripture. It is demonstrated perhaps most clearly in healing miracles in the gospels. Jesus' love in action, then, and this first vivid healing miracle of the leper, teach us this same theme. He has lifted up the lowly, and the proud are scattered in their conceit. He is illustrating, without qualification or explanation, the true power of salvation and the action of the holy in our lives, the redemption that is promised in this fulfillment of Scripture in his person. Can we remember this in our encounters with others? As we are to be the Salt and Light of a heavenly kingdom here on earth, as his disciples, can we remember that "to the clean, there is nothing unclean?" How do we come to practice this, in whatever forms we are called, in our lives? And what contemporary worldly notions in our own milieu - social rules - need we reject to do so?

A special thanks from me today to Fr. Mark Hummell of, appropriately for this week, The Church of the Ascension, who honors love in action through a Recovery Eucharist each month. "Recovery Eucharists are times to acknowledge the grace of God by which so many who have addictions, or love someone with an addiction, have been transformed and restored to health and well-being, and to praise God for their recovery."