＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊

1John 5:5-13

Who has overcome the world?

The one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.  Jesus Christ was acknowledged through water, but also through blood. Not only water but water and blood.

And the Spirit, too, witnesses to him for the Spirit is truth. There are then three testimonies:  the Spirit, the water and the blood, and these three witnesses agree.  

If we accept human testimony, with greater reason must we accept that of God, given in favor of his Son. If you believe in the Son of God, you have God’s testimony in you. But those who do not believe make God a liar, since they do not believe his words when he witnesses to his Son. 

 What has God said? That he has granted us eternal life and this life is in his Son. The one who has the Son has life, the one who do not have the Son of God do not have life.  I write you, then, all these things that you may know that you have eternal life, all you who believe in the Name of the Son of God.

 

Ps 147 12-13, 14-15, 19-20

Praise the Lord, Jerusalem.

 

＊＊＊＊ Gospel ＊＊＊＊

Luke 5:12-16

One day in another town, a man came to Jesus covered with leprosy. On seeing him he bowed down to the ground, and said, “Lord, if you want to, you can make me clean.”

 Stretching out his hand, Jesus touched the man and said, “Yes, I want it. Be clean.” In an instant the leprosy left him. Then Jesus instructed him, “Tell this to no one. But go and show yourself to the priest. Make an offering for your healing, as Moses prescribed; that should be a proof to the people.”

 But the news about Je­sus spread all the more, and large crowds came to him to listen and be healed of their sickness. As for Jesus, he would often withdraw to solitary places and pray.

 

Gospel Reflection：

We sometimes undertake big decisions and take big risks to achieve what we desire. In this case, the leper broke the barrier between him, a sick and sinful man and Jesus, a newly minted but highly esteemed teacher of Israel.

He begged to be healed. His plea must have been one of desperate gamble. Jesus saw through his heart. That is why He did not hesitate. He too crossed the barrier and extended His hand and touched he leper. He gambled also big time.

Then a miracle. The leper was healed. Jesus’ fame spread even against His strict admonition that the leper tells it to no one. Both their gamble paid off big time. When we are down to our last card, bet on God and you will never lose.