Today’s readings concern leprosy. This was a deadly disease in the times of our Lord and required that the sufferer had to go and show the symptoms to the priests. They would then make a determination and indicate if you were “clean” or “unclean”. If you were found unclean, you were separated from the community and your family. No one could touch you and you had to walk on the opposite side of the road. If anyone came too close you had to announce that you were unclean. This made the disease even more horrendous then it was. In our first reading from Second Kings, we have the story of Naaman a powerful man who had leprosy and goes to see Elisha to be healed. He is reluctant to do what Elisha says, but then agrees and plunges himself seven times into the river. On the seventh time he is made clean. This should be a lesson to us as well. Sometimes we know what we ought to do, but our false pride or sinfulness get in the way. Often we know what God desires from us, but we put it off until some future time which often never arises. We need to do what we ought to do now… In our second reading, St. Paul reminds us that we are saved by Christ and if we suffer with Him we will also reign with Him. These are great words of encouragement as many of us undergo suffering. If we mix suffering with our prayers it becomes incredibly powerful, as it is not easy to do. Finally in St. Luke our Lord heals ten lepers and tells them to go show themselves to the priests so they can be welcomed back to society. Only one, a Samaritan, comes back to say thanks. Our Lord rewards him by saying his faith has saved him. Sometimes we too feel unclean before the Lord. We feel we cannot get right with Him because of what we have done. Our Lord has given us the Sacrament of Reconciliation. This is for our healing so that even if our sins be as red as scarlet or as vile as leprosy on our soul, we can be made whiter than snow and entirely whole again by our Lord Jesus Christ. So this week make plans to go to Reconciliation and be made right with our Lord… And by the way, don’t forget to say thanks for the healing to our God... Something to think about...May God richly bless you always
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