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Healing bodily leprosy as well as spiritual leprosy of sin
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In the Old Testament, sickness of any kind was considered a curse or punishment from God for sin. Leprosy was considered the most chronic and incurable skin disease.
Although treatable today by modern medicine, leprosy is still considered a serious skin condition. People with leprosy were excluded from the community and were treated as outcasts. One can only imagine what painful existence would be for the many people who had the misfortune of contracting this disease. If they did not die as a result of the disease, they would have died due to loneliness.
But Jesus, the great prophet who God has sent to heal us, cures this sickness along with the societal stigma associated with it. Jesus heals us not only of our physical ailment but also our spiritual ailment of sin.
As Lent begins in a few days, the call is to repent and believe the Gospel. We must rend our hearts, not our garments. We must weep and lament the wrong we have done and make efforts to amend our lives. We must turn away from sin and learn to live in righteousness. All these we can do with the help of Christ, who himself fills us with the joy of salvation.
Here are a few things to consider for Lent:- Forgive all who have wronged you, and ask forgiveness from those you have wronged. You don’t need the baggage; set it down!
- Make a good confession and repent of all known sin. God wants to forgive, but you have to ask.
- Resolve to be better and to start all over again. It is never too late as long as you are willing.
- Smile again, Jesus loves you. Even when you can’t smile, or see no reason to, Jesus still loves you.
Fr. Julius