Are you at times hesitant to ask God for forgiveness because you have committed the same sins again? Do you forgive others as Christ forgives you? - Daily Reflections January 10,2014

A “TOUCHING” STORY THAT CHALLENGES US

 

During my first weeks in the Philippines, I visited a leprosarium. It was a shocking experience. For the first time, I understood why lepers during the time of Jesus were excluded from any contact with healthy people. They had to live outside villages in colonies and were considered outcasts in society.

       The leper in today’s Gospel was very courageous when he approached Jesus. And Jesus must have shocked the onlookers when He did something strictly prohibited: He touched the leper. This made Him ritually unclean, too, according to the religious laws.

       The healing of the leper through Jesus’ touch was chosen as the reading for this day to continue answering our post-Christmas questions about who the infant born in Bethlehem is and why God became man.

       In the Bible, leprosy is often used as a symbol for sinfulness. The story about the leper’s healing, therefore, has a deeper meaning. Jesus did not only come into this world to preach the Good News and announce the coming of the Kingdom of God. He came also to show concern for those who suffer physically. His mission was to reach out to all people, outcasts included.

       But leprosy as a symbol for sinfulness offers us another answer to our questions: Jesus came into the world to heal us from our sinfulness. Sin had opened a wide gap between God and man. Jesus came to bridge this gap. He came to reconcile us with God. He came to heal us. Jesus forgives us the moment we approach Him and humbly ask for healing.

       But let us not forget what we have already said: As disciples of Jesus, we are tasked to continue what He did. The story challenges us to break down humanly imposed divisions, reach out to the marginalized, and welcome them back to community. The second challenge is to be more forgiving. The more we experience the joy of God’s forgiveness, the more we should be ready to forgive those who have hurt us. After all, can someone hurt us more than we have hurt God through our sins? Fr. Rudy Horst, SVD

 

REFLECTION QUESTIONS: Are you at times hesitant to ask God for forgiveness because you have committed the same sins again? Do you forgive others as Christ forgives you?

 

Lord, You came into this world to reconcile us with Your Father. Continue to forgive us when we fall and help us to be as generous and forgiving to others as You are to us.