Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

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Cleansing Christ
Mark 1:40-45
Vs 42 b,  “ I am Willing” he said “Be Clean”  immediately the leprosy left him and he was cured.
 
There was a culture followed in North India where a person diagnosed of leprosy had to leave his family and go to a mountain called Rishikesh, where they would spend their remaining life. Their wife had to live the life of a widow wearing white clothes. Their children would accompany the fathers till the valley and then come back. It was a similar culture followed among Jewish people, where a leper was considered unclean and was ostracized from the society. People threw rocks at these lepers so that they do not come in contact with any person. If anyone comes in contact with a leper, they would also be considered unclean as per the law and be declared unfit to participate in religious and social activities.
In the passage for today’s meditation too we see an encounter between Jesus and a leper. During those days, all skin diseases were considered as a form of leprosy. A leper had to wear torn dresses and live outside the colony (Leviticus 13: 1-32). Here the leper approaches Jesus and begs for purification. Jesus touches him and declares him to be clean at which the leper is cured. This was one of the miracles Jesus did during the last days of his ministry in Capernaum.
There is a story shared by Dr. Somerville who served amidst leprosy persons. Once a leprosy affected beggar came to Dr. Somerville’s house. Seeing the beggar, doctor walked towards him, touched his shoulder and asked “Brother, what can I do for you?” The leper replied, “I don’t want anything because I got what I desired”. Confused the doctor asked, “What have you got?” The leper replied, “I had been longing for a touch and for someone calling out to me. You touched me and called me ‘brother’. That is what I desired and I got it before I asked”.
To the leper’s begging request, Jesus replies, "I'm willing". Jesus is always ready to purify our thoughts and actions. The real value of a person is inside, not outside. Although a person's body may be deceased or deformed, the person inside is no less valuable to god. We are all people with “Leprosy” because we have all been deformed by the ugliness of sin. But by Jesus’s touch we shall be cleaned. In the law it is said that contact with any unclean person made a person unclean too. But Jesus touching the unclean made the unclean pure. Mother Teresa is one person who followed the paths of Jesus touching many unclean, thus purifying their hearts and souls. Let us also free ourselves from all leprosy and be a healing touch in the lives of others.
 
PRAYER
Lord we are willing . Make us clean by your touch and let us be free
In Jesus Name we pray Amen.
 
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
Lent is a time of sanctification. Let us get purified  ourselves  and then others through the word of God.

Rev.Johnson Abraham. Vicar
The Mar Thoma Church Staten island.

Christian Education Forum, Diocese of NAE of the Mar Thoma Church

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