It must have been very difficult during the time of Moses if someone gets infected with leprosy apart from acquiring this dreaded disease the person has to shout it out loud and declare himself unclean. I guess, it will always be easy to declare something that will make us look good to others but to announce to everyone that you have a dreaded disease is really embarrassing. It's a good thing the Church does not require us to do it anymore. If there's something important we can learn from this is that we should not be ashamed to admit if we have committed something wrong, God is always welcoming us if we will just humble ourselves and confess our faults and failures. More than the fear of becoming physically sick with leprosy a disease which is very difficult to cure, could leave you scarred, deformed and could even cause death should be our fear of injuring our souls and tainting it with scars that can leave it deformed or worst dead for eternity.
Book of Leviticus 13,1-2.44-46.
..."The one who bears the sore of leprosy shall keep his garments rent and his head bare, and shall muffle his beard; he shall cry out, 'Unclean, unclean!'
As long as the sore is on him he shall declare himself unclean, since he is in fact unclean. He shall dwell apart, making his abode outside the camp.
The readings for today speak of leprosy and how this disease makes a person look very ugly and unwanted. A friend and I were just sharing some thoughts about physical beauty when we met a priest from Italy . Just by looking at him, one could not help but think that he could really pass off as an actor in Hollywood . He is very tall and handsome. During our conversation we both came up with this thought that physical beauty could sometimes obstruct a person's holiness if the person is not careful of his/her choices. It could lure him/her to a lot of worldly options that are presented to him/her. It is a lot better to have a beautiful soul for eternity than to be physically beautiful for a limited time. We admired this priest for offering himself to God for he was not only handsome physically but surely very wise for he realized the importance of making it big in the kingdom of God
Psalms 32(31),1-2.5.11.
...Happy the sinner whose fault is removed, whose sin is forgiven.
Happy those to whom the LORD imputes no guilt, in whose spirit is no deceit.
Then I declared my sin to you; my guilt I did not hide. I said, "I confess my faults to the LORD," and you took away the guilt of my sin.
We should always have a firm stand to do everything in our power to strive in making not only our physical bodies well and in perfect shape but most importantly to maintain a splendid and vibrant soul free of all impurities and diseases, Amen!
First Letter to the Corinthians 10,31-33.11,1.
So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God... Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ...
Sometimes we come to a point when we just have to keep silent and not say anything at all. There are so many reasons why. It could be that some things are better left unsaid. Or no matter what we say the words we speak of just fall on deaf ears. Sometimes or most of the time silence could convey a better message than saying anything at all. In whoever or, whatever situation is involved at any time it is always for the best to follow what God tells us to do and take His word for it than follow our own. If we feel that we have been very preoccupied with a lot of worldly things that we are starting to neglect and care for our spiritual concerns, then it's time to stop and look at ourselves very closely. We may not notice it and even before we know it we may have developed a leper soul. Leprosy is something that creeps unknowingly because it damages the nerves and leaves you numb and insensitive and will catch the person by surprise when suddenly a body part becomes damaged, beyond repair and will just fall off. Before it's too late we better go to Jesus right away. All we have to rely and depend on is God's will to happen in our lives and nothing else matters. For nothing is impossible with a Great and Big God. Our imperfections will be made perfect and our impurities cleansed if we only know where to really go, to none other than God Himself. Amen. Hallelujah!
Mark 1:40-45
A leper came to him and kneeling down begged him and said, “If you wish, you can make me clean.” 41 Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand, touched him, and said to him, “I do will it. Be made clean.” 42 The leprosy left him immediately, and he was made clean. 42 The leprosy left him immediately, and he was made clean. 43 Then, warning him sternly, he dismissed him at once. 44 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.” 45 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.
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