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Reflection for 2/5/06

Lepers in Biblical times must have been very lonely. Once the priest declared a person “leprous and unclean” he or she was excluded from society. How difficult it must have been to be shunned by everyone, even family and friends. Surely it was desperation that led a leper to break all the rules and approach Jesus to beg, “If you wish, you can make me clean.” Jesus responded with love, ignoring the taboos and reaching out to touch the leper, saying “I do will it. Be made clean.” One can only imagine how thrilled the leper was to be made whole again. All of us are in need of healing. Our blemishes may not be as obvious as the sores of a leper but they are just as real. They may be barriers between us and the people we care about or between us and God. Jesus is willing to heal us but first we must acknowledge our failings. Then we must, as the leper did, humble ourselves to beg for Jesus’ mercy. Our flaws will be transformed and we will be drawn more fully into the Body of Christ.

  1. Would you have the courage to tell others to do as you do in order to be a Christian? Why or why not?
  2. What can you do this week to be an example to others?