A leper came to him [ . . . ] begged him and said, “If you wish, you can make me clean.” Moved with pity, [Jesus] stretched out his hand, touched the leper, and said to him, “I do will it. Be made clean.” // Mark 1:40-41
“The Blood of Christ.” The priest solemnly raised the chalice in front of me.
“Amen,” I whispered, gratefully taking it in my hands.
A deep longing surged through my heart, met by a wave of profound fulfillment as I felt His Most Precious Blood slip down my throat and I slipped back into the pew. I savored every sensation of His touch, wishing I could stay there forever.
For health reasons, I can only receive the Eucharist on occasion—and only in the form of the Precious Blood.
Even though I long to receive our Eucharistic Lord more often, I’ve discovered that this ache is also a great gift. It has awakened an understanding of the unsurpassed value of Christ’s touch. I’m learning that this gift of His physical presence is one I’ve largely taken for granted.
The leper in today’s Gospel was continually deprived of human touch. His disease not only robbed him of physical health, but of a deeper need for human contact and community. His humble begging came from a place of longing far deeper than his physical infirmity.
It was here in this deep longing that Jesus met the leper, and purposely touched him to heal him.
We constantly come into contact with things that can lead to our contamination: not only physical contagion, but deeper destruction that can lead us into sin.
When our incarnate Savior touches what is contaminated, however, His purification can spread to it.
It was for this reason that Jesus took on human flesh—for the leper and for us. Only His touch can bring life, healing, purity, and hope.
We’re in desperate need of His physical presence—healing contact and encounter with Him every day, meeting grace so powerful it can purify us of sin.
What leprosy of body, mind, and soul plagues you? Today, seek out His physical presence. Be cleansed in Confession and receive Him at daily Mass. Visit an adoration chapel or sit in the presence of the tabernacle, and don’t be too proud to beg.
His healing is more than skin-deep. He alone knows your deepest infirmity, and He wills to heal it—gently and slowly—with Himself.
Megan Hjelmstad (“Helm-stead”) is a wife, enthusiastic hockey mom, and Army Veteran living in Denver, CO. After serving fifteen years in the United States Army, Megan now serves the Church as an author, speaker, and women's mentor in her “spare” time. Megan loves to share God’s hope in suffering and is the author of Offer it Up: Discovering the Power and Purpose of Redemptive Suffering. She’s a long-time team member of Blessed is She and a writer and speaker for several other ministries. Megan adores books, sleep, sunshine, and Colorado’s great outdoors almost as much as she adores Jesus in the Eucharist. Learn more at MeganHjelmstad.com.
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