Remembrance of Saint Irenaeus (+202), bishop of Lyon and martyr; he went to France from Anatolia to preach the Gospel.

Reading of the Word of God

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia

This is the Gospel of the poor,
liberation for the imprisoned,
sight for the blind,
freedom for the oppressed.

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia

Matthew 8,1-4

After he had come down from the mountain large crowds followed him. Suddenly a man with a virulent skin-disease came up and bowed low in front of him, saying, 'Lord, if you are willing, you can cleanse me.' Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him saying, 'I am willing. Be cleansed.' And his skin-disease was cleansed at once. Then Jesus said to him, 'Mind you tell no one, but go and show yourself to the priest and make the offering prescribed by Moses, as evidence to them.'

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia

The Son of Man came to serve,
whoever wants to be great
should become servant of all.

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia

Jesus has just finished giving the Sermon on the Mount before a large crowd. He called blessed the poor, the afflicted, the meek and those who hunger and thirst for righteousness. Now he comes down from the mountain, as Moses came down from the mountain, with the tablets of the law. And here a leper comes before the law of love that Jesus has just proclaimed. A man whom the law had kept isolated in his disease and impurity, that was considered contagious. "Lord, if you choose, you can make me clean." It is a simple prayer, but full of faith: "If you choose." Jesus, who later tells the disciples "Knock and it will be opened to you," immediately opens the door of his mercy, extends his hand, touches the leper and speaks to him. And the leprosy disappears. Jesus is not afraid to stop in front of that sick person: he takes care of him, touches him and speaks words of affection to him. In this way he heals him. Jesus - who goes beyond ritual dispositions - shows the disciples how to stand by the one in need, how to care for him. This is the meaning of listening, of the hand that reaches out to touch the leper, of the words he speaks to him. Jesus clearly states what God's will is: "I do choose. Be made clean." This must also always be the will of the disciples and of every Christian community. If Jesus teaches us how to welcome, at the same time, through this leper, he teaches us how we are to stand before him. Let us stretch our hand towards him and he will heal us.