Be Made Clean

Now there was a man full of leprosy in one of the towns where he was; and when he saw Jesus, he fell prostrate, pleaded with him, and said, "Lord, if you wish, you can make me clean." Luke 5:12

How do we physically cleanse ourselves? We take a bath, brush our teeth, cut our nails, clean our ears and all other bathroom rituals to rid us of yesterday's impurities.  Only yet to face another day that we will once again come into contact with the day's pollutants. Imagine not having to take a bath for 2 days, or even a week.  Surely, we will smell, and we'll probably ward off our friends and even risk losing our jobs or get suspended from school.

How often do we spiritually cleanse ourselves? I know of somebody who went back to confession after 10 years. It almost took two hours to finish.  It took a great deal of unburdening, repenting, forgiving, and healing.  Hatred consumed this person over the years, and was led to be far from the Lord because of shame and feeling of unworthiness. This person thought that the pain would just go away, without forgiving, without being cleansed spiritually. Like not having to take a bath for 10 years, our souls are compounded with the world's dirt and filth, and yes we will stink to the point that we are used to the smell. We ward off God's graces for our lives and suspend the blessings He has in store for us.

The mercy of God is greater than any of our sins. He forgives, but for us to come to the point of asking forgiveness, we have to go through the process of total humility, of letting go, of wishing God to make us clean.

"Jesus stretched out his hand, touched him, and said, "I do will it. Be made clean." And the leprosy left him immediately (Luke 5:13)."