The Word of God Planted within Me

“…humbly welcome the Word that has been planted in you and is able to save your soul” (James 1: 21), we read in today’s first reading (James 1: 19-27). When we plant seeds this spring, those seeds, if given the right amount of rain and sunshine and other nutrients, will grow into flowers, vegetables, depending on their DNA, so to speak! The DNA planted within us is the Word of God, Christ Jesus. That seed will grow strong, mature, over time. My whole being will become the being of Christ, as I nurture it, surround it with an environment that supports it, namely, if I do good works, engage in humble service, avoid evil, repent of my sinfulness, spend time reflecting upon the Scriptures, take time to sit at Jesus’ feet in prayer and openness to the Spirit of God, the “Sun” of grace. That seed will grow when I feed it at the Table of the Lord (the Eucharist) and commit my ways to the ways of the Lord. The growth of that seed also depends upon my openness to the healing power of Jesus, which flows in me and through me in each encounter of the day that is graced by love, in the same way that the blind man in today’s Gospel, Mark 8: 22-26., encountered Jesus' love through his friends. In stages, as he trusted the Lord and was ready to be fully healed of his blindness, his eyes were opened, at first to see dimly and indistinctly and then to seeing clearly. May I Lord, be open completely to what you want me to see, what you want me to hear, and to how you want me to love you and trust you this day in all of its events and encounters, in all of its challenges and difficulties, in all of its sorrows and joys. May I allow Your Word to grow strong in me this day and to bear fruit that heals others and myself.

Jesus, Master, Have Pity on Us

Today's Gospel, Luke 17: 11-19, tells the story of the ten lepers who encounter Jesus and, obviously recognize who Jesus is--the One who can restore them to wholeness, the One who is their "gate" to re-enter society and their "ticket" to leave their isolation.  By recognizing Jesus and calling out for pity, by believing in Jesus as the One who can save them, these lepers are healed. They no longer need to isolate themselves from others. They no longer need to hide from the public.

It was no accident that these lepers encountered Jesus, anymore than it is an accident when we encounter loving, merciful, wise individuals who free us from that which may be "eating" away at our "flesh,"  people who open our eyes to our hatreds, our prejudices, our fears, our sinful behaviors and attitudes by which we distance ourselves from others and from God. Whenever we stand in judgment of another, whenever we condemn another, whenever we enter into gossip of another, we are distancing ourselves from others. Whenever we are dishonest, deceitful; whenever we act out of pride and vent our anger onto others, deliberately hurting them, returning evil for evil, the leprosy of sin within us comes out of remission, so to speak.  Whenever we succumb to "leprous," diseased attitudes and behaviors, we darken our faith vision. At those times, we, like the lepers, have created a wall between us and others and need to cry out:  "Jesus, Master, have pity on us."   Am I aware when I become "the leper" who has distanced her/himself from God and others and are in need of mercy?

An Intercessor at the Throne of God

In today’s first reading, Heb 7: 25-8:6, we are reminded that Jesus offered Himself, His will, His life, not according to a man-made law but in accord with God’s will, God’s infinite mercy, infinite love and infinite compassion toward humankind, who had severed its relationship with God through its disobedience.  Jesus’ sacrifice for sin, through His obedience to the Father even unto death on the cross,  is eternal, does not need to be repeated as were the  sacrifices offered according to the law of Moses, the Old Covenant.  No! In the New Covenant, Jesus, who interceded for us on the cross, continues His intercession for us at the right hand of God.  Yes, Jesus, like us in all things, sits at God’s right hand, in the majestic, transcendent Holy of Holies, interceding for us just as He interceded here on earth for all who pressed to touch Him and be healed of their diseases (cf. today’s Gospel, Mk 3: 7-12).

What in me is dis-eased, out of sync with God, paralyzed, broken, wounded, choosing my way and rejecting God's way,  that needs healing?  I have One in the Holy of Holies that is beyond the veil that separates us on earth from God, who is ready to heal me.  May I accept this reality and humbly bring myself to touch Jesus today. Only by this contact will I be able, in turn, to be a healing presence in this broken world, especially for those with whom I live and give service to others in my home, in my place of employment and other places to which I am called today. How have I taken time today to seek out the Lord as did the people in today’s Gospel?