Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes

“A leper came to Jesus and kneeling down begged him and said, “If you wish, you can make me clean.” Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand, touched him, and said to him, “I do will it. Be made clean.” The leprosy left him immediately, and he was made clean. Then, warning him sternly, he dismissed him at once. He said to him, “See that you tell no one anything, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses prescribed; that will be proof for them.” The man went away and began to publicize the whole matter. He spread the report abroad so that it was impossible for Jesus to enter a town openly. He remained outside in deserted places, and people kept coming to him from everywhere.” -Mark 1:40-45

More than the other Gospel writers, Mark uses the phrase “Moved with pity” when describing Jesus. Being the son of Martha’s sister, Mary, Mark would have grown up watching Jesus and witnessing His ministry through the eyes of a child. Perhaps with that childlike innocence, Mark saw pity as the root cause of Jesus’ mercy for His people.

Christ is still here, hand outstretched, touching us in His mercy. He waits patiently for us to kneel and beg Him, “If you wish, you can make me clean.” Then, with childlike faith, we must accept His touch and know the Lord has made us clean. We must go out and show ourselves to the world, for the time to hide God’s miracles has passed. Now, we must spread the Word abroad.

Our Lady of Lourdes, pray for us.

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Jesus, I trust in you!