Friday after Epiphany
Reading I 1 John 5:5-13
Beloved:
Who indeed is the victor over the world
but the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?
This is the one who came through water and Blood, Jesus Christ,
not by water alone, but by water and Blood.
The Spirit is the one who testifies,
and the Spirit is truth.
So there are three who testify,
the Spirit, the water, and the Blood,
and the three are of one accord.
If we accept human testimony,
the testimony of God is surely greater.
Now the testimony of God is this,
that he has testified on behalf of his Son.
Whoever believes in the Son of God
has this testimony within himself.
Whoever does not believe God has made him a liar
by not believing the testimony God has given about his Son.
And this is the testimony:
God gave us eternal life,
and this life is in his Son.
Whoever possesses the Son has life;
whoever does not possess the Son of God does not have life.
I write these things to you so that you may know
that you have eternal life,
you who believe in the name of the Son of God.
Responsorial Psalm Psalm 147:12-13, 14-15, 19-20
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 Matthew 4:23
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Jesus proclaimed the Gospel of the Kingdom
and cured every disease among the people.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel Luke 5:12-16
It happened that there was a man full of leprosy in one of the towns where Jesus was;
and when he saw Jesus,
he fell prostrate, pleaded with him, and said,
“Lord, if you wish, you can make me clean.”
Jesus stretched out his hand, touched him, and said,
“I do will it. Be made clean.”
And the leprosy left him immediately.
Then he ordered him not to tell anyone, but
“Go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing
what Moses prescribed; that will be proof for them.”
The report about him spread all the more,
and great crowds assembled to listen to him
and to be cured of their ailments,
but he would withdraw to deserted places to pray.
Lectionary for Mass for Use in the Dioceses of the United States, second typical edition, Copyright © 2001, 1998, 1997, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine; Psalm refrain © 1968, 1981, 1997, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. All rights reserved. Neither this work nor any part of it may be reproduced, distributed, performed or displayed in any medium, including electronic or digital, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.
January 10, 2025 // Friday after Epiphany
Read the Word // Open your Bible to today’s Gospel: Luke 5:12-16.
Reflect on the Word //
I looked out the window, watching raindrops chase each other down the glass. Observing the Irish countryside, I pondered how the skies could be so gray, while the ground vibrantly wore a lush green color. In looking at my own heart, it made total sense.
I had spent the past year juggling both grief and hope. On one hand, I had a devastating recent family loss and an overwhelming, anxious transition out of college. On the other, I had new friendships growing, opportunities to travel, and a deeper prayer life than I ever had before.
Every single day was filled with such a mix of both “gray” and “green.” It was those very clouds of my sadness and anxiety that the Lord was using most to grow new things, to love me, and to connect with me. As I shared honestly with Him how hard life felt to me, I was met with His companionship, His healing, and His joy. It didn’t ever change my circumstances, but time spent with Him in the “gray” always changed me into someone greener, more hopeful, and more at peace.
In moments of suffering, our honesty is essential. We must extend our hearts to God, tender as we painfully ask why the Lord would allow such difficulty. Like the leper in Luke 5, we say boldly, “Lord, if you wish, you can make me clean” (Luke 5:12). Maybe in your prayer, it sounds like, Lord, if You wish, You can heal this, or If You wish, You can ease my pain. And we ask in our hearts, quietly to ourselves, Does He? Does He wish to heal us?
He does. He proves it with His presence. Without fail, the Lord extends His hand back to us. “I do will it. Be made clean,” He offers to us, just as He did in today’s Gospel (Luke 5:13). He may not heal us how and where we expect, but we can always trust Him at His word; He wills our good. May we remain open and eager to receive it from Him.
Relate to the Lord // Share the “gray” and “green” parts of your heart with Jesus today in prayer.
Aubrey Major is an artist and designer living life joyfully in the Midwest. She has a new favorite color every week, loves laughing any chance she can get, and scrolls through Spotify playlists way more than any social media. She is passionate about loving the world through her creativity and designing unique things that help others see the goodness in their lives. Join her in making art and collecting inspiration here.
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