Friday 12th Week OT A 2026

Gospel 

Matthew 8:1-4 

When Jesus came down from the mountain, great crowds followed him.
And then a leper approached, did him homage, and said,
“Lord, if you wish, you can make me clean.”
He stretched out his hand, touched him, and said,
“I will do it.  Be made clean.”
His leprosy was cleansed immediately.
Then Jesus said to him, “See that you tell no one,
but go show yourself to the priest,
and offer the gift that Moses prescribed;
that will be proof for them.”

 

Jesus has just spent the last few chapters of Matthew’s Gospel teaching. From the Beatitudes to the parable of the two foundations he has covered a lot of ground about how to live and be in relationship to God and others. He comes down off the mountain today and begins by a series of healings and then driving out demons.

 

We begin with the crowds following him.  But soon they will beg him to leave the region for they were afraid when they saw him drive out some demoniacs that terrorized the area.

 

It’s an interesting transition, for you would think that seeing the healing and driving terrible beings from their area would result in the people begging him to stay.

 

We often pray for miracles and think if I see a miracle I will believe. Or if this difficulty in my life was removed then my faith would grow.  But many walk away from him. And now a district of people  who have seen his miracles and driving out the worst of demons became fearful.

 

What can we take away from this. Faith is not gained by seeing. Faith is not gained by having miracles performed. Faith is a yes we say everyday and ask God for more faith so we can grow our relationship with him. Faith is about choosing Jesus Christ and holding on.

 

 Today the leper is healed and Jesus tells the leper to tell no one but perform the ritual required so he is identified as clean and can live a new life.

And that is what faith in Jesus Christ will give us too. A new life where we stop living on the edges of the kingdom of God and instead receive the fullness of his graces and blessings.

 

Today we are called to show others who we are are. Like the leper we are transformed by our faith and made new again. It is the peace in our hearts that will lead others to Jesus also.

 

Have faith and let nothing take away the peace of Christ in our hearts. It is in how we live that others seek his peace also.