“A leper came to Jesus begging him, and kneeling said to him, “If you will, you can make me clean.” Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand and touched him, and said to him, “I will; be clean.” And immediately the leprosy left him, and he was made clean.”
Excerpt, Gospel Reading, Thursday 16th January 2025 – MARK 1:40-45.
So, ordinarily, during Jesus’ time in Israel, lepers were not supposed to mingle freely in the society.
That society didn’t even permit lepers to wear decent clean clothes.
If lepers must walk on the road, they would have to cover their upper lips and shout, “unclean, unclean” when ever someone is approaching.
Notwithstanding all these restrictions, the leper in today’ teaching yet made his way to Christ Jesus and kneeling before him, he pleaded for his cleansing.
My dear friend, when we hurt someone very badly and we are aware that we have treacherously disappointed ourselves by betraying the confidence they reposed in us and our actions are irredeemable and unpardonable, then, we are no less as wretched as a leper.
Nevertheless, even that our actions are unpardonable, if we humble ourselves and approach those we have offended, apologise to them and plead for forgiveness, most discerning hearts will forgive us.
Barring other actions we may have taken to further plead our course with the offended, even if they refuse to forgive us, that singular decision and subsequent action to approach them have helped us to make peace with ourselves.
Dear friend, make that move today. Firstly, to God Who is ever ready and willing to forgive and take us back, then, to fellow men whom we may have wronged.
The peace that will encumber one is usually contagious. It is definite to positively permeate into other aspects of our life.
That peace is equally so engrossing that it will pervade to the outside and folks when the see us will be like, “You dey shine these days o!”
Have a fantastic day folks.
#Blessed_Carlo_Acutis! #Pray_for_us!
– Akase Agabo
16th January 2025.