Friday after Epiphany
Today, I am fascinated in our Gospel at the sense of calling. I often take this term to mean that we are being drawn to take action, told to forge a certain path, to move in a specific direction. Sometimes it is linked with a sense of vocation or a way of living; other times it drives us into an act of service or a deed for a neighbor. However, I sometimes forget that we also need to be calling out or at least looking to be called. Have you ever found yourself looking for something more out of life? Desiring greater fulfillment? A change in direction? Perhaps you are ‘being called’ but you are not yet sure as to what or how. Or you are just so frustrated by your current situation (whatever it may be), feeling burdened, struggling with physical, spiritual, mental, emotional ailment--you are looking for a change, literally begging to be called to a different life.
I am struck by this two-way street of calling. In the gospel, “a man full of leprosy...saw Jesus, [ ] fell prostrate, pleaded with him, and said, ‘Lord, if you wish, you can make me clean.’” The man is literally calling out to Jesus for a change in life. His situation was as bad as it could get; he was an outcast in society, unclean, unable to participate in worship, and shut out of a place in the community. Yet, he desperately clings to hope and his great faith brings about the calling he’s been looking for. He throws himself down at the feet of the one who can redirect his life--the one with the power to save, the power to change everything--and, as we’re told, he pleaded, begged, implored for a fresh start. But what I think is even more important to recognize is that the man didn’t ask IF Jesus could or would help; no, his conviction of faith was so strong that he knew that Jesus was able to cleanse him from leprosy. And how does Christ respond? “Jesus stretched out his hand, touched him, and said, ‘I do will it. Be made clean.’ And the leprosy left him immediately” (Lk 5:13). Bam! Just like that, he is clean free from his burden, able to approach the rest of his life in a whole new way.
I find there to be two very fascinating things at play here. First, was the man only asking--and in turn, Jesus only willing it so--to be cleansed from his physical impurity? Or perhaps, as was part of the cultural belief of the time--his leprosy also made him cursed; believed to be a physical sign of his spiritual uncleanliness. Therefore, it wasn’t just a physical miracle of curing the man’s leprosy, it was also a spiritual cure, the washing clean of his soul, forgiveness of sins. Second, Jesus was ready to be asked for help. God is waiting for us to come to him with our struggles, our sins, our burdens. This man was visibly, physically unclean. We are all often spiritually unclean yet through the sacrament of reconciliation, God is ready to make us clean. Are we ready to approach him in faith to be made clean?
What is weighing you down? Are you struggling? When is the last time you thought about your calling? How might God be calling you to refocus your life? What is it that you want to call out for? God is ready to say, “I do will it”.
Abundant Blessings,
Brandon Meyer