Epiphany III

 
Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. (St. Matthew viii. 2)
 
        
Epiphanytide is all about the manifestation, showing forth, and revelation of God’s power, wisdom, and love in the life of Jesus Christ. What we read in our Gospel lessons for this season not only reveals historical facts but gives us food for thought in our relationship with the Lord. Christ performed miracles long ago to establish his intention to continue His work with us even now. Of course, His intention has always been the healing, redemption, and salvation of our souls. If the soul is not repaired, we shall not be saved. The repair of the soul makes is right with God for salvation.
        
But the mercy that Christ brings into the world is never to be mistaken as some free heavenly handout. Christ’s mercy comes with conditions precisely because He has made us and respects what He has made. This means that His mercy will only be effective in us if we respond to it and grow it. A mercy that is simply bestowed freely without any expectations is certainly not Divine Mercy but foolish disrespect. Were God in Jesus Christ simply to hand out mercy, the implication would be that God is dealing with irrational children incapable of growing up and into the perfection of their human nature. Rather, Christ treats us as those who are redeemable. To be redeemable means that there is something in us that can be involved in our repair. And for this reason, He invites us to obtain mercy by way of seeking it out, by knocking at the door of His heart, and asking for its healing power.

Prior to today’s healing, Jesus had been preaching on a mountain. The mountain symbolizes the spiritual and heavenly world elevated above the natural and earthly. On the mountain, Jesus had exhorted his listeners to judge not, lest ye be judged. (St. Matthew vii. 1) The Father’s business, revealed to us by His Son, Jesus Christ, is about the repair of the soul that could begin only with self-judgment, with the sinful soul subjecting itself to the high and heavenly judgment, whilst leaving the judgment of others to God. Christ’s point was that we cannot possibly help others out of their sin until God’s Grace heals and repairs our souls. Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye. (ibid, 5) God’s judgment is necessary for our soul’s repair and we must seek it out.

Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: for every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. (ibid, 7,8)
 
Christ calls us into a relationship with God where we are responsible for searching for God’s mercy. Like the Three Wise Men, we must follow the Star. Like Mary and Joseph who have lost Jesus, we must seek Him out. Like Mary, the servants, and Governor of the wedding feast at Cana in Galilee, we must taste the difference between the wine that brings earthly happiness and the nectar of heaven that heals.
        
But Christ’s healing power is meant for those who are sick and need a physician, those who are sinners in need of a Saviour. So, today we read that behold, a leper came and worshiped Him. (ibid, 2) The leper had heard of Jesus’ power to heal. He says, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. (ibid, 3) The leper is sick and needs help. But notice that He respects the will of God in Jesus Christ. If you will it Lord, you can heal me. The leper is sick, desires healing, but knows that it all hinges upon the will of God. Oftentimes those who are sick know that their sickness is sent from God for a deeper dependence upon His mercy. Sickness in body can encourage closeness in spirit with God.
But we do tread that Jesus willed to heal the leper. And Jesus put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed. (ibid, 4) Christ desires to relieve the sinner of his earthly illness. To the leper’s if thou wilt, Christ respectfully responds, it is my will. The leper’s faithful desire is rewarded with Christ’s generosity. The leper’s respect for Christ’s needful consent is rewarded. A spiritual relationship begins, and God’s mercy is obtained. The leper has played his part in ongoing redemption at Christ’s hands.
        
We would not be wrong to discern that Christ’s healing of the leper came with the fulfillment of some real expectation. The leper, having heard Christ’s Sermon on the Mount, must seek, ask, and knock. The leper has a role to play in his redemption and salvation. He does not find himself the beneficiary of free and cheap Grace. It comes at a cost. He must express his need and desire, knowing that even the healing of his leprosy is no guarantee of his salvation. See thou tell no man. (ibid, 4) Christ did not come chiefly to heal earthly sickness, eradicate poverty, eliminate hunger, or set up an earthly kingdom. Christ came to heal and save man’s soul. Sometimes Christ relieves earthly suffering and sometimes he permits it; in either case, the believer must seek out deeper the soul’s deeper spiritual healing.
        
Of course, mercy is given by God through Jesus Christ and has expectations. See thou tell not man. (idem) The leper has been given an opportunity to work out his salvation with fear and trembling, not with boasting and vain glory. St. Paul says this morning, be not wise in your own conceits. (Romans xii. 16) God’s wisdom alone suffices for our healing and redemption. The leper is cleansed of his disease but must not take this as a free pass to settle old scores. He might have had a great deal of resentment, bitterness, and anger at all those who refused to come near him to help him in time of need. Recompense to no man evil for evil. (ibid, 17) God’s mercy comes with the expectation that it should grow in the human soul as an unmerited gift of goodness and love. The leper has much work to do. Having been healed of his leprosy, he now must begin the hard work of seeking out God in Jesus Christ for his soul’s repair. The body is healed but the soul is still sinful and in need of that medicine that comes down from above. Epiphany reveals to the leper his problem, Christ’s initial solution, and then the greater need for spiritual healing and redemption. Our souls must continue to supplicate mercy to repair the sickened soul. So we pray:
Almighty and everlasting God, mercifully look upon our infirmities, and in all our dangers and necessities stretch forth they right hand to help and defend us, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Amen.
©wjsmartin