In the first reading today from Leviticus 13, we read about what will be done with lepers. He “shall keep his garments rent and his head bare, and shall muffle his beard; he shall cry out, ‘Unclean, unclean!’ He shall dwell apart, making his abode outside the camp.”
In the Gospel reading from Mark 1, a leper comes to Jesus and asks Jesus to heal him. Jesus touched him and the leprosy left him immediately, and he was made clean. It probably took a lot of courage for this leper to approach Jesus. Remember, lepers were supposed to dwell apart and not bring their disease around others.
We, too, are lepers. Our leprosy is sin. Sin, like leprosy, makes us want to dwell apart. When we sin, we cut ourselves off from the Body of Christ. It can take great courage for us to come to Jesus and ask to be cleansed. First we must realize that we need that cleansing. Then we must swallow our pride and ask. Rest assured, my friend, that when we do, Jesus will do for us just what He did for the leper in today’s Gospel reading. We, too, will be made clean.
Father, give us the courage to acknowledge our leprosy. May we always come to Jesus to seek our healing and forgiveness. Amen.
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