Healing

The story of the Leper in today's gospel (Lk 5:12-16) pinpoints the reality of our fragile human nature. As mighty as the body might be, as we see weight-lifters , body builders, cross trainers, and athletes making the rest of us look small and weak, and as marvelous as the body is to recover from sickness or accidents involving broken bones, it is subject to ailments from leprosy to the common cold. How many times do we receive requests for healing prayers? The list grows daily.  Today's story highlights "the direct approach" "and when he saw Jesus, he fell prostate, pleaded with him, and said, 'Lord, if you wish, you can make me clean.'" (Lk 5:12)  As word of the healing spread, great crowds assembled to hear Jesus and be healed. Jesus accommodated them but also would withdraw the deserted places to pray. Anyone involved in being asked for this and that over and over, knows the need to do just that.  Why not be pre-emptive, and make it a regular practice to withdraw to a quiet place to pray in advance for those who will inevitably be asking for healing?
Bro. Rene