When JESUS came down from the mountainside, large crowds followed him. A man with leprosy came and knelt before him and said, “LORD, if you are willing, you can make me clean.” JESUS reached out his hands and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” immediately he was cleansed of his leprosy. Then JESUS said to him “See that you don’t tell anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the gift Moses commanded as a testimony to them.”
Matthew 8:1-4
So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the Glory of GOD.
1 Corinthians 10:31
Now may the LORD of PEACE himself give you PEACE at all times, in every way. The LORD be with all of you…The GRACE of our LORD JESUSCHRIST be with you all.
Thessalonians 3:16-18
The GRACE of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.
Philippians 4:23
Meditation:
Leprosy was and is a terrible condition. In ancient times a person with any open sore was suspected of having leprosy and had to remain outside the camp – trying to survive as best he or she could, avoiding other people. In order to be able to rejoin the community, a person whose sores had healed needed to show him/herself to the priest as proof of the healing.
After Jesus heals the leper, he tells him to go show himself to the priest so that he may be able to rejoin the community. He also tells him not to tell others how he was healed – an impossible task for the man who can’t wait to spread the news!
Paul tells us that everything he does is for the spread of the gospel and for the glory of God – not himself. Here is where he is imitating Jesus, by giving credit to the Father. ..
It can be easy for someone who has been gifted by God with beauty, intelligence, success, educational opportunities, wealth, athletic ability, etc. to take credit for his or her achievements. However, these are gifts given by God and we are given gifts so that we may use them to build up the kingdom, not to build up ourselves. As imitators of Christ, we are called to use the gifts we have been given wisely and with gratitude.
So many of Paul's letters begin or end with a prayer for GOD's GRACE and PEACE. Paul specifically mentions the "spirit." It is far more important that our spirits benefit from GOD's GRACE than that our bodies do so. A concern with the spiritual over the physical is a mark of true Christian spirituality.
As Paul says, do everything for the glory of God! And not for our own benefit, but so that others will be led to Christ by our example and thereby know the joy of salvation!
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, thank you for loving, forgiving, saving and giving us an Eternal Spiritual Life! Also, for all we have received from you, so many healings, gifts and blessings. Let us use these gifts to proclaim joyfully the Good News to all people. God, it is you whom we look to for the GRACE, HOPE, and PEACE to strengthen and encourage our spirit, even in the midst of the pressures and trials of life. Your GRACE is a powerful and undeserved favor that transforms us! In JESUS ‘name we pray. Amen!
Jose Reyes.
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