june 30 2006

Mt 8:1-4 When Jesus came down from the mountain, great crowds followed him. And then a leper approached, did him homage, and said,“Lord, if you wish, you can make me clean.” He stretched out his hand, touched him, and said, “I will do it. Be made clean.” His leprosy was cleansed immediately. Then Jesus said to him, “See that you tell no one, but go show yourself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses prescribed; that will be proof for them.”

The leper is told by Jesus to go to the priest in the temple, but otherwise to tell no one about the healing. The leper does not listen to Jesus. I can imagine that the excitement of being cured must have been great. In his great joy, he forgot the words of Jesus. One lesson I get from this reading is to give thanks to God first for graces and gifts and causes of joy