The First Reading shows Israel in a time of weak faith. After losing in battle, they treated the Ark of the Covenant like a “good-luck charm,” hoping it would guarantee victory. But they were defeated again, and the Ark was taken.

God cannot be forced or manipulated by rituals or holy objects; He asks for hearts that are converted and faithful. Faith cannot be reduced to mere outward practices.

In the Gospel, we meet a completely different attitude. A man with leprosy comes to Jesus, not relying on anything external—no rituals, no sacred objects—only a humble and trusting heart. He says, “If you wish, you can make me clean.” And it is this simple, sincere faith that opens the way for a miracle. Jesus reaches out, touches him, and he is healed instantly.

When we look at this man with leprosy, he dares to approach Jesus exactly as he is—without hiding, without fear, without despair. He brings to the Lord his limits, his wounds, and the deepest needs of his heart — and it is in that very moment that he is touched and healed.

This image is also an invitation for us today. Even though our own lives may still have areas that are not yet whole, weaknesses we are struggling with, or burdens we carry, Jesus still wants us to come to Him with humility and trust, saying, “Lord, if you wish, please transform my life.”

God does not ask us to be perfect before approaching him; it is precisely when we come to him in truth that he touches us and renews us from within.

Let us pray:

May we come to the Lord each day with sincere hearts, placing our trust in his love, so that every encounter with him—especially in the Holy Eucharist—may bring healing and renewal to our souls. Amen.