3rd Sunday after Epiphany

Tomorrow we hear how we are to deal with those who offend us or treat us badly. We're not supposed to seek to get even with them for their actions. You know; 'Love those who hate you'. This is very hard sometimes. We want those people to get their due justice NOW! But, God doesn't see it that way, and we are supposed to be like Him.

EPISTLE (Rom. XII. 16-21.) Brethren, be not wise in your own conceits. To no man rendering evil for evil: providing good things not only in the sight of God, but also in the sight of all men. If it be possible, as much as is in you, having peace with all men; not revenging yourselves, my dearly beloved but give place unto wrath; for it is written: Revenge is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. But if thy enemy be hungry, give him to eat; if he thirst, give him to drink; for doing this, thou shaft heap coals of fire upon his head. Be not overcome by evil, but overcome evil by good.

"Revenge is no sign of courage," says St. Ambrose, "but rather of weakness and cowardice. As it is the sign of a very weak stomach to be unable to digest food, so it is the mark of a very weak mind to be unable to bear a harsh word." The same saint says: "Are you impatient?, you are overcome. Are you patient?, you have overcome."

When we return him good for evil, for seeing our well meaning towards him, the flush of shame should redden his face for the wrongs he has done us. St. Augustine explains these words thus: "By giving food and drink or doing other kindnesses to your enemy, you will heap coals, not of anger, but of love, upon his head, which will inflame him to return love for love." Learn therefore, from the example of Christ and His saints, not to allow yourself to be overcome by evil, but do good to those that hate and persecute you.

In the Gospel, taken from St. Matthew, we see Jesus healing a leper. The leper knows that only God can heal him, and he asks Jesus to do it. God wills the healing, and Jesus says: "I will, be thou made clean." Therefore, He is God! How much simpler can it get?

Also, we hear the words that we say at every Mass: "Lord, I am not worthy that thou should enter under my roof; but only say the word, and my servant shall be healed." We do a slight variation of this, when, just before our Communion, we ask God to forgive us so that we may receive Him in a worthy state.

It always makes me wonder why Jesus tells these people who are healed not to tell anyone. I figure that it's because they will notice him without him saying a word. However, if those laws at that time required him to do so, Jesus wants him to fulfill the law. But, we all know that those in charge will not, for the most part, acknowledge that this Jesus actually cured him.

With all of this in our mind, I would like to end with yet another prayer we don't hear anymore. It is the Commemoration of the Blessed Virgin Mary for this Sunday, and we are asking her for her help.

O God, who by the fruitful Virginity of Blessed Mary hast given to mankind the rewards of eternal salvation, grant, we beseech Thee, that we may experience her intercession, by whom we received the Author of life, our Lord Jesus Christ, thy Son.

She is the new 'Ark' of the new covenant, which now supercedes that of the old since His death on the Cross.