A Catholic priest since 1997, Fr. Andrew Ricci is currently the rector of the Cathedral of Christ the King in Superior, WI. His website "Three Great Things" can be found at studyprayserve.com and his podcasts can be found under "Catholic Inspiration" in the iTunes store.
As Jesus heals the leper we comprehend an important truth: the Lord meets us where we are – in our brokenness and frailty – and helps us grow in newness of life. Simply put, we become more when we are touched by Christ.
Here’s a quick overview of the readings this week:
1st – The prophet Isaiah describes a servant of the Lord
Psalm – “Here am I, Lord; I come to do your will.”
2nd – Paul addresses the church of Corinth
Gospel – John the Baptist testifies to Jesus
In all of these readings we see the pattern emerge about serving the Lord. Isaiah describes it; the Psalmist proclaims it; Paul refers to it; John the Baptist shows it.
Throughout salvation history God has called men and women to offer their lives in a variety of different ways. Perhaps in a holy way of life or through heroic sacrifice; or maybe through service, works of charity, or prayerful stillness.
It’s crucial to note, however, that the Lord continues to call disciples today. Our lives – redeemed by the blood of Jesus Christ – are precious, holy, and sacred. We have been given the gift to choose how we will live, and thus become a gift to the world.
Every day we reaffirm the gift of our lives. Perhaps you are searching for the Lord’s call in your life today…take time to discern how you can offer your life. Perhaps you have chosen your vocation…then live it with passion! And while we can’t change the past, we can learn from it, and apply the insights into making the present moment a blessed offering to God.
The baptism of Jesus recalls the gift of our own baptism and how our lives are now configured to Christ. May we live this great gift as we put our faith into practice.
The words of John Baptist remind us of a crucial spiritual point, “He must increase, I must decrease.” May we seek to let Christ increase his rule in our hearts each and every day.
As Jesus heals the leper in the Gospel of Luke, we witness the profound compassion of the Lord, who longs for our TOTAL healing – body, mind, heart and soul. May we draw near to Christ for this healing and in turn seek to be agents of healing whenever possible.
The First Letter of John cuts through any warm and fuzzy notions of love with a decisive evaluation: we reveal our love for God through our love for one another. May this practical test guide and direct our actions, powered by the love of Christ.
The First Letter of St. John offers a beautiful and moving reflection on how God’s love moves in and through us into the world. May the Lord’s love flow through us today!
This is the altar at the Church of the Multiplication at Tabgha on the shore of the Sea of Galilee. Note the two fish and the basket containing four loaves…the fifth loaf is for the altar!
The multiplication of the fishes and loaves in the Gospel of Mark uses the same language that we use to describe what happens at Mass when the priest takes the bread and wine. May we be nourished every time we go to pray, so that we can nourish others with the gift of our lives.