We need to remember His words, "Without Me you can do nothing."

He was God Almighty. "According to your faith let it be to you."

We know we can find the Lord in His Word, He is really there and that He can help us.

Perhaps we are ust like the leper. We long for the Lord's help.

  

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊     

2 Kings 25:1-12

In the ninth year

Of Zedekiah's reign, on the tenth day of the tenth month, Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon

marched with his entire army and laid siege to Jerusalem. They camped outside the city

and built siege works all around it. The city was under siege up to the eleventh year of the reign of Zedekiah.

On the ninth day of the fourth month famine became a serious problem in the city,

and throughout the land there was no bread for the people.

 

When the city was opened by a breach in the wall, the Judean army fled through the gate

between the two walls near the king's garden, while the Chaldeans were still around the city;

and they fled towards the Arabah. The Chaldeans followed in hot pursuit of king Zedekiah and caught up

with him in the plains of Jericho. All his army deserted him and scattered.

The Chaldeans seized the king and led him away to Riblah in the territory of Hamath and there the king

of Babylon passed sentence on him. There at Riblah the king of Babylon slaughtered the sons of Zedekiah in his presence.

 

He then put out the eyes of Zedekiah, bound him with a double bronze chain and took him to Babylon.

On the seventh day of the fifth month in the nineteenth year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon,

Nebuzaradan, commander of the captain of the royal guard and servant of the king of Babylon,

entered Jerusalem and set fire to the house of Yahweh and the royal palace, as well as to all the houses in Jerusalem.

The Chaldean army under the commander of the bodyguard completely demolished all the walls around Jerusalem.

Nebuzaradan, commander of the bodyguard, carried off into exile the last of the Jews left in the city,

those who had deserted to the king of Babylon and the remainder of the artisans.

But he left those among the very poor who were capable of working in vineyards and cultivating the soil.

 

Ps 137:1-2, 3, 4-5,6

Let my tongue be silenced, if I ever forget you!

 

＊＊＊ Gospel ＊＊＊      

Matthew 8:1-4

When Jesus came down from the mountain, large crowds followed him. Then a leper came forward.

He knelt before him and said, "Sir, if you want to, you can make me clean."

Jesus stretched out his hand, touched him, and said, "I want to, be clean again."

At that very moment, the man was cleansed from his leprosy. Then Jesus said to him, "

See that you do not tell anyone; but go to the priest, have yourself declared clean,

and offer the gift that Moses commanded as evidence for them."

 

Gospel Reflection ：

What should you do when faced with what seems to be a "dead end" in life?

Let's examine the actions of the leper.

He approached Jesus and said, "Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean."

In Jesus' time, leprosy signified a life of isolation, rejection, and hopelessness.

Nonetheless, the leper dared to believe that Jesus could heal him.

His faith and the openness of his heart made the impossible possible.

 

Jesus responded with deep love: "I am willing. Be clean." Not only did He heal him,

but He also touched him-an act of profound compassion. Where others saw impurity, Jesus saw a heart open to grace.

This miracle reminds us that no situation is beyond God's power. When we come to Him with faith, even in our brokenness,

He restores us. When we approach Him with open hearts, even amid doubt, He surprises us.

Are there areas in our lives where we feel hopeless? Like the leper,

let us go to Jesus with trust, knowing that He is always willing to make us whole.