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The Gospel Proclamation
Once, when he was in one of the cities, there was a man covered with leprosy. When he saw Jesus, he bowed with his face to the ground and begged him, “Lord, if you choose, you can make me clean.” Then Jesus stretched out his hand, touched him, and said, “I do choose. Be made clean.” Immediately the leprosy left him. And he ordered him to tell no one. “Go”, he said, “and show yourself to the priest, and, as Moses commanded, make an offering for your cleansing for a testimony to them.” But now more than ever the word about Jesus spread abroad; many crowds would gather to hear him and to be cured of their diseases. But he would withdraw to deserted places and pray.
Gaze at Jesus
Jesus had healed the man of his leprosy. The news of the healing spread and great multitudes came to hear Him and be healed. BUT HE WITHDREW INTO THE WILDERNESS TO PRAY.
Jesus is keenly attentive to the leading of the Holy Spirit. It is time to get into a dialogue with the Father.
In the Gospel of St. Luke, the author clearly brings out that Jesus was a man of prayer.
* Luke 3/21 - Now when all the people were baptized and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying
* Luke 5/16 - But he withdrew to the wilderness and prayed
* Luke 6/12 - In these days he went out to the mountain to pray; and all night he continued in prayer.
* Luke 4/18 - Now it happened that as he was praying alone the disciples were with him;
* Luke 4/28 - Now about eight days after these sayings, he took with him Peter and John and James and went up on the mountain to pray.
There are other texts where the actual prayer is mentioned like Luke 10/21; ‘In that same hour he rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said “I thank thee father, Lord of heaven and earth that thou hast hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to babes, yes, Father, for such was your gracious will.”
Gaze at my sonship
If I am to imitate Jesus, then I have to be a man of prayer. In fact St. Paul urges us to pray continually. Thus I must be continually attentive to the Holy Spirit just like Jesus was. When I look back over the past week of the year 2010; was I able to imitate the Lord? Let us repent and request the Holy Spirit to help us.
Prayer Starter
Lord God Abba Father, I want to be an extension of Your four-fold love - Universal, Sacrificial, Serving, Unceasing. Help me to be more like Jesus.
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