Last Sunday, we saw an Epiphany of Our Lord at Cana in Galilee. Now, we begin to see Him acting. This is indeed the Son of the Living God.

Today’s gospel presents us with two miracles
- the first is a leper who approaches Jesus
- Leprosy was more than an illness, it was a social stigma
 – Anyone who contracted the dreaded disease was cast out from society
 – They were forbidden to enter any town
 – They were to wear bells and call out as they approached: Leper, I am a leper
The social rejection was probably much worse than the disease, and that was horrible

The leper approached Jesus with faith
- “Lord, if You will, You can make me clean.”
 – first we see, He recognized our Lord’s divinity – he did not say, master or teacher but Lord
Jesus acts immediately “I will; be made clean.”
- Jesus doesn’t pray, He doesn’t call upon the Father or God
 – Jesus is the healer and He acts immediately

The second miracle is just as amazing, or even more so
- A Roman Centurion approached Jesus to ask healing of his son who is at home
- Jesus promises to visit the man’s home and cure the child
 – but the Centurion feels unworthy, so he said “only say the word”
- Jesus promises that the boy would be healed
 – And at that very hour, he was healed
 – Jesus didn’t even need to go

Both the leper and the centurion had faith
- In fact, Jesus speaking of the centurion said He had never found such faith in all of Israel
These men are an example to us all
- Both had faith in the Lord Jesus Christ
 – and because of their faith and trust, Jesus acted, He acted immediately

We have more than the leper, we have more than the centurion. You and I receive the Living Lord Jesus in Holy Communion. He is fully present in our body and in our soul. We are closer to Him than they ever were on this earth. If He is so close, what more will He not do for you and me? if only we come to Him with that same faith: “Lord, I am not worth that You should enter under my roof, but only say the word…”