Friday after Epiphany
Life Through Faith in Jesus
Liturgical Cycle: A | Lectionary Cycle: II
Introduction
What John says in his letter about faith in Jesus is exemplified in the gospel. Faith consists in believing in Jesus Christ, “who came by water and blood”; when he was baptised in the waters of the Jordan, he was proclaimed Son of God; by shedding his blood on the cross, he accomplished his mission. This Jesus has eternal life. By believing in him, we encounter him as a person and share in his life.
The leper believes in him: “You can cure me,” he says. Jesus restores the man’s health and thus manifests once more that God’s power and life is in him.
Opening Prayer
Lord God of life,
We believe with all that is in us
that Jesus is your Son and our Saviour.
He can heal us from the leprosy of sin
and give us a share in the fullness of his life.
Deepen our faith in him and let it change our lives.
Let us encounter your Son from person to person,
that he may live in us
and that we may bear witness
that he is our Lord and Savior,
who lives with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.
Responsorial Psalm
R. (12a) Praise the Lord, Jerusalem.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Glorify the LORD, O Jerusalem;
praise your God, O Zion.
For he has strengthened the bars of your gates;
he has blessed your children within you.
R. Praise the Lord, Jerusalem.
or:
R. Alleluia.
He has granted peace in your borders;
with the best of wheat he fills you.
He sends forth his command to the earth;
swiftly runs his word!
R. Praise the Lord, Jerusalem.
or:
R. Alleluia.
He has proclaimed his word to Jacob,
his statutes and his ordinances to Israel.
He has not done thus for any other nation;
his ordinances he has not made known to them. Alleluia.
R. Praise the Lord, Jerusalem.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Alleluia Verse
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Jesus proclaimed the Gospel of the Kingdom
and cured every disease among the people.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Prayers of the Faithful
– That all Christians, especially our leaders of the Church, may by their goodness and their spontaneous joy bear forceful witness that Jesus Christ is our risen Lord, we pray:
– That all peoples of the earth may hear where the Lord can be found and come to know his name and pray to him, we pray:
– That the faith and hope of the sick and the dying may be firmly anchored in our Lord Jesus Christ, who is the resurrection and the life, we pray:
Prayer over the Gifts
Lord our God,
in these signs of bread and wine
we remember that Jesus shed his blood
to let us share in his life and love.
Renew us by his body and blood,
that we may grow in his likeness
and that you may recognize in us
the face of your own Son,
Jesus Christ our Lord.
Prayer after Communion
Lord God, loving Father,
your Son has been with us
and we entrust ourselves to him in faith.
Let this faith so mark our lives
that whatever the future brings,
we keep trusting and hoping
that he is our life and joy and healing,
and that with him and on account of him
we will live in your love
for ever and ever.
Blessing
“Whoever has Jesus, the Son, has life,” says the apostle John to us today. May Jesus’ life keep growing in all of us, and may God bless you, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
REFLECTIONS
Desire and Daring
The healing in today’s gospel is the result of the confluence of the desires and the daring of two men: The leprosy-affected man who dared to approach Jesus and desired to be healed; and Jesus who desired to heal him and hence, reached out and touched him. Both defied the unjust social norms of the day. The book of Leviticus had provided detailed instructions as to how to deal with those suffering from leprosy. Anyone diagnosed to be a leper had to live outside the camp, away from everyone and as a social outcast (Lev 13:46). But here is a man ‘covered with leprosy’ daring to approach Jesus and express such hope in God’s love. How could Jesus deny healing to such a soul who knew the heart of God! Faith moves not only mountains—it moves the hands and heart of God as well.
================
Luke 5:12-16
Called to Compassion, Healing and Inclusion
In Luke, the account of Jesus healing the leper illustrates His mission to reach the marginalized, providing healing, compassion, and a sense of belonging. This event is woveninto a broader narrative that highlights concern for the poor and oppressed, confronting social and religious norms that foster exclusion.
Leprosy represented more than merely a physical condition; it signified deep social isolation. Lepers faced separation, were labelled as unclean, and were excluded from their communities and worship activities. When the leper came to Jesus, he desired not just physical healing but also a return to dignity and social belonging. Jesus’ reaction was revolutionary—He touched the man, healing him and symbolically reintegrating him into the community.
This story calls us to examine how we engage with the marginalised in our world. Today, the “lepers” may not suffer from physical disease but from poverty, homelessness, mental illness, or social exclusion. Like Jesus, we are challenged to extend compassion, not from a safe distance, but through active solidarity and inclusion.
Luke reminds us that healing is not only about addressing immediate needs but also confronting the root causes of suffering: injustice, inequality, and systemic neglect. As individuals and communities of faith, we are invited to embody the Gospel by advocating for those pushed to the margins, offering not just charity but genuine integration into the life of the Church and society.
Moreover, Luke highlights Jesus’ need for prayer amid His ministry. This reminds us that our actions must be rooted in a prayerful relationship with God, seeking His guidance and strength.