In today’s Gospel proclamation we see Jesus showing deep compassion for the leper. Leprosy was a dreaded disease of that time, where those who had this incurable disease lost everything and became outcasts of society. They were the untouchables. In the leper’s prayer we see deep faith in Jesus’ ability to heal him. We also see how he surrenders without demanding, by laying himself at the mercy of Jesus saying “if you choose you can make me clean”. Let us examine our hearts, we may not have an incurable physical disease but maybe there is some hidden area of sinfulness or brokenness. If we continue to choose to ignore and give into sin, it eventually could destroy us. The pleasure of sin is a delusion, promising pleasure and satisfaction, but leading to sorrow, pain and destruction. Let us bring every area of sinfulness to the feet of Jesus, bringing him the truth of our hearts, and surrendering to him every area of brokenness and woundedness, allowing him to touch us and heal us and make us clean.

Prayer: Abba Father, search my heart, reveal to me my hidden sins. If you wish, you can make me clean. Amen.