Thursday 12 January 2023

Today is Thursday the 12th of January in the first week of Ordinary time.

One Hope Project sings, ‘Come Close’. As we begin this time of prayer, draw near to the Lord now. Allow Him to reach out to you.

Come close
My heart is ready
Come close
My heart is here
Draw near I’m longing for You
Draw near
My love


All I’ve ever wanted
All I’ve ever wanted
All I’ve ever wanted is found in You


This moment is ours
I won’t rush away
Jesus


Today’s reading is from the Gospel of Mark.

Mark 1:40-45
A leper came to him begging him, and kneeling he said to him, ‘If you choose, you can make me clean.’Moved with pity, Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, and said to him, ‘I do choose. Be made clean! ‘Immediately the leprosy left him, and he was made clean.After sternly warning him he sent him away at once, saying to him, ‘See that you say nothing to anyone; but go, show yourself to the priest, and offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.’But he went out and began to proclaim it freely, and to spread the word, so that Jesus could no longer go into a town openly, but stayed out in the country; and people came to him from every quarter.

Leprosy was in that culture a terrifying disease, and everyone would steer clear of lepers… “Don’t Touch!” would be the watchword. How does Jesus react to the challenge?
Spend a moment sitting with how remarkable Jesus’ actions are… Can you get a sense of just how unbelievable it would have been for others to see Jesus reach out to touch the man?
“People came to him from every quarter”…imagine these people for a moment, and ponder the reason why they made their journeys…If you had heard this story, would you have made the journey to see Jesus?
Now listen as the story is read again, and see what you find most remarkable as you listen.
Finally, see if you can gather all the thoughts that have come to you during this time, and turn them into a prayer to God.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.