Daily Reflection – 1/11/2024
Sacred Scripture
A leper came to him [and kneeling down] begged him and said, “If you wish, you can make me clean.” Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand, touched him, and said to him, “I do will it. Be made clean.” The leprosy left him immediately, and he was made clean. Then, warning him sternly, he dismissed him at once. Then he said to him, “See that you tell no one anything, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses prescribed; that will be proof for them.” The man went away and began to publicize the whole matter. He spread the report abroad so that it was impossible for Jesus to enter a town openly. He remained outside in deserted places, and people kept coming to him from everywhere. (Mark 1:40-45)
Reflection
We just have to love Jesus. We love Him for so many reasons. Today’s scripture reminds us of still another reason.
For a moment, let’s focus on what Jesus did here. As we know, lepers, in his day, were not just social outcasts. They were true outcasts not allowed near people at all. In fact, there was a belief that even being in their company could cause leprosy. So, they lived outside of the town and begged for food.
What does Jesus do when the leper approached Him?
He doesn’t shirk from the leper. He doesn’t rebuke him because he came too close. Not our Jesus! He stretches out His hand in love. In forgiveness. In acceptance. In healing.
Wow!
Jesus did not see a “leper,” but rather he saw a human being in great need. Jesus put people ahead of norms, public or religious pressures, stigmas and rumors. Jesus put God and people first and did not succumb to the societal pressures of His day. By so doing, not only did he acknowledge the man ‘s dignity and worth, but publicly restored it. Jesus took a great risk by touching this person, but this is in fact the sort of risk that love takes.
Now to us. We are called to emulate Jesus. How many of us could do that? We live in a culture where labels abound. Political figures encourage us to use labels so we can sort out “the good from the bad.” Everybody has labels. But how can we love another if before we even see that love, our vision is clouded by a descriptor? Can we love despite a societal descriptor?
We must. If we are to live in the love of Jesus, then we truly have to adapt His perspective, His love, His goodness.
Our society is deeply fractionalized by differences. Worse yet, that fractionalization has grown, in some cases, to have a voice – a voice often dripping with anger, with accusations, with threats. Even some of our churches encourage us to overlook those words and fight for what they define is right.
Fight for what right? There is only one right. The blood of Jesus Christ that wiped us clean. That claimed us for His father. Whose outstretched arms are with us every mortal minute of our lives.
We must act in love as He did. This has nothing to do with different opinions and disagreement, that’s part of our humanity. What isn’t is saying that we have accepted Jesus in our lives, as our Savior but then beginning to choosing only those words that fit our pre-defined labels.
Ummmmm, no.
Instead, we must reach for Jesus in love, ask Him to walk with you every day, to listen to both your needs and your words. At the end of each day, pause in prayer and ask only one question: “Were my words and deeds in concert with His message of love, compassion and forgiveness.” If they were not, then ask Him for the strength to walk and act in His love.
All who have been healed, restored, liberated, revived by Jesus Christ are called to have that same heart of love and compassion. Carrying the cross of Christ requires it.
Prayer of The Day
“Lord, inflame my heart with your love and make me clean. May I never cease to tell others of your love and mercy. Pray that I embody that in all I do.”
Daily Note
What we need is the faith and confidence of the leper in today’s gospel reading. He believed firmly in the power and the mercy of Jesus. “If you will, you can make me clean,” was his approach to Jesus. We too need to turn to Jesus and pray to be cured of those things that keep us from Him.
