💖 HOMILY - JANUARY 9 💖

First Reading - 1 John 5:5-13

Gospel - Luke 5:12-16

Many people quietly ask themselves a difficult question: can my faith really make a difference in my life as it is right now? Not in theory, not someday, but in the middle of weakness, struggle, and unanswered prayer. Today’s readings respond with a steady and hope-filled answer. Faith is not denial of reality; it is confidence that life is stronger than whatever threatens it.

The First Reading from 1 John speaks with calm assurance. Victory over the world does not belong to the strongest, the most successful, or the most certain. It belongs to those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God. This victory is not about avoiding suffering or difficulty. It is about trust that endures. John insists that God has already testified on our behalf, and that testimony is life. Eternal life is not only a future promise; it begins now, in relationship with the Son. Faith gives us confidence, not because life is easy, but because it is held by God.

This is important for people who feel worn down. Faith is often misunderstood as emotional certainty or constant strength. John describes it differently. Faith is remaining rooted when circumstances shake us. It is choosing trust even when clarity is incomplete. It is knowing where life truly comes from.

The Gospel from Luke brings this faith into a raw and deeply human moment. A man with leprosy approaches Jesus. He is physically suffering, socially excluded, and religiously marginalized. His words are striking in their honesty: Lord, if you wish, you can make me clean. This is not demand. It is trust. He believes in Jesus’ power, but leaves the outcome in his hands.

What follows is one of the most moving details in the Gospel. Jesus reaches out and touches him. Before healing, before words, there is touch. Jesus does not heal from a distance. He enters the man’s isolation. The miracle is not only the cleansing of the body, but the restoration of dignity. The man is seen, touched, and welcomed back into life.

This encounter reveals the heart of faith described in the letter of John. Faith is not just believing something about Jesus; it is approaching him with our need and trusting his response. It is daring to come close, even when shame, fear, or exhaustion tells us to stay away.

Dear friends, many people carry forms of leprosy that are not visible: guilt that isolates, grief that distances, habits that wound, or fear that convinces us we are unworthy. Like the man in the Gospel, we may believe God can help, but doubt whether God wants to.

The answer given today is clear. God’s will is life. God’s desire is restoration. Faith does not guarantee that everything will happen as we expect, but it guarantees that we are not alone, not ignored, and not untouchable.

The invitation today is simple and courageous. Bring what needs healing into the presence of Christ. Trust not only in his power, but in his compassion. Let faith be the step that moves you closer, not farther away.

When we believe in the Son, we already share in life. When we dare to approach him, even in weakness, we discover that God’s touch is not withheld. And in that encounter, confidence is reborn, dignity is restored, and life begins again.