Third Sunday after Epiphany, 2022

In our Gospel this Sunday we have two examples of humility, the leper and the centurion. One had an obvious cause for his humility, namely his illness and all the consequences of it, the other did not have such an obvious reason for humility. The centurion, despite his position, showed humble faith in Jesus which may be regarded as being as miraculous as the physical healing of the leper and the servant. These two individuals, so different and so needy, show us what true wisdom looks like. St Paul says simply, "Be not wise in your own conceits." This exhortation not to be wise in our own sight is a difficult lesson for some of us to learn. Yet humility is the only way for our deepest needs to be met, and thus humility most clearly exhibits true wisdom. We can only be forgiven, healed, and ultimately perfected if we come to Jesus with the humility exhibited by both the leper and the centurion. Whatever our worldly circumstances, whether we are obviously impoverished, or if we are enjoying a measure of worldly success and comfort, we approach Jesus believing that he alone is able to grant us what we most desperately need.

Readings: You may access the prayer and readings by following this link. You may read the RSV and ESV translations of the readings here.

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