Jesus cures the leper

Fr Paul reads from the Gospel of Luke (5: 12-16) in which the leper says to Jesus “If you want to, you can cure me”.

Epiphany, as Fr Paul mentioned last Sunday, means ‘manifestation’ or an appearance or a demonstration and the Gospels we have read this week have all been about the manifestation or the appearance of Jesus. They have been about how Jesus is to appear to the world. As we approach the end of this little series of readings, we hear of the healing power of Jesus as he shows to the leper his sympathy and love.

At the end of this Gospel there is a little reminder to the disciples and to us, that whatever we do, it is to be grounded by prayer.  Jesus needs to constantly communicate with his Father.

For our reflection today, Fr Paul says, we might ask ourselves, with everything I do each day, is it grounded by prayer?