Fifth Sunday of Ordinary Time

Jesus stands ready to stretch out his hand and heal us. The question is: are we ready to accept His healing in our lives? At the time of Jesus, leprosy like that found in this Sunday’s gospel was a form of ritual uncleanness that prevented someone from being a part of the public worship of the community; it was as if that person was cut off from God Himself. Our sins can often make us feel the same way. When we fail to follow Jesus and choose to follow other gods, it is easy to be filled with shame and feel completely isolated from the Lord.

But Jesus reaches out to us in the midst of our uncleanness. God Himself reaches out to the leper, bringing him back into the community of believers. Jesus desires to do the same thing for us today in our spiritual lives. He is ready and willing to forgive our sins, most especially in the sacrament of Confession, so that we can be free of our guilt and shame and live our lives for Him. All we have to do is receive His gift.

Do I believe that Jesus can and wants to make me clean?

As we prepare to enter into the season of Lent, what sins do I need Jesus to forgive?

This week, what is one way I can imitate Jesus in helping to bring someone back into the Church community?