Gospel reflection for the Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B.

I turn to you, Lord, in time of trouble,

and you fill me with the joy of salvation. (Psalm 31)

The leper in our Gospel story today, despite  his distressing, repulsive state, had an advantage that few of us have today. Disregarding his rags, his dirt, his smell, his outcast status, he had absolute faith in Jesus' power to heal. And in one brief, divine gesture Jesus responded to his faith, healing him in the twinkling of an eye.

Our advantage is to see the miracles of modern medicine cure diseases which were once considered incurable;  our challenge is to live prayerfully day by day, year by year and grow in a deep, enduring faith in Jesus' power to heal the leprosy of sin - our own and others.