Gospel (Mark 1:40-42)

A leper came to him begging him, and kneeling said to him,” If you want to you can cure me.” Moved with compassion Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, and said to him, “Of course I want to. Be cured.” Immediately the leprosy left him, and he was made clean.

Imagine Jesus standing in front of you. Tell him of a specific hurt, a deep-seated resentment, or an unfreedom in your life that you want him to heal. Say to him, “If you want to you can cure me of…” Be specific in naming what it is you want him to heal. He is filled with compassion for you, and he says to you, “Of course I want to cure you of… Be cured.” He lays his hand on your head.

Imagine his light and strength moving into your mind and lighting up dark areas of misunderstanding, critical judgments, remembered rejections, and so on. When in imagination you experience that light of love flowing through your mind, let it move into your heart to free you from any fear or resentment that may have taken hold of your heart. Imagine that healing light helping you to let go of any idols that are enslaving you—especially the idol of an unforgiving, resentful attitude—and when you sense that light freeing you from darkness, imagine Jesus calling you by name and saying, ‘You are the light of the world’.

Then recall somebody you wish to pray for—possibly but not necessarily a person who has hurt you—and imagine that person being present with you. Spend some time allowing that to happen, and then lay your hands on that person. Imagine the love and light of Jesus flowing through you into that person’s mind and heart bringing healing.

After you have allowed yourself to experience the presence and love of Jesus, so that your faith, hope and love are strengthened, go back with Jesus to the scene of the hurt. Imagine him walking with you and reconciling the two of you, looking at you and looking at the other person, saying to both of you, “Love one another as I have loved you.” Linger lovingly.

Go to Calvary. Spend some time experiencing that scene and making it as vivid as you possibly can. Then go to the scene of your hurt and recapture it in detail. Be aware of your feelings. Then return to Calvary, allowing yourself to experience the pain of Calvary. Take plenty of time. Go back now to the scene of your hurt. Spend some time there, then go back to Calvary. Going back and forth, allow the love of Calvary to heal you.

Healing does not usually take place instantly but is a process. Deep pain and resentment which have developed over some time will usually take persistent prayer to heal. Often there are layers of hurt, resentment and unfreedom that need to be uncovered in prayer. Once one layer of hurt, resentment and unfreedom has been healed others may present themselves for healing. We know we are healed when we can recall the hurting experience and no longer feel the pain and the resentment.