Today’s readings prepare us for the penitential season of Lent.

In our Gospel, a leper knelt before Jesus and said, “If you wish, you can make me clean.” Jesus reached out and
touched this diseased man and healed him. He then encouraged the man to show himself to the priest and offer
himself a cleansing, referencing what was commanded in the Law of Moses. By completing these rituals, this man
might be reinstituted into the community.

Let us approach this holy season of Lent like the leper.

By our faults, we have distanced ourselves from God and His 
community. The leper reminds us Who to go to so that we might be healed. Let us approach the Lord this season on
our knees asking for forgiveness and healing from our offenses, saying, “If you wish, you can make me clean.” There
is no doubt that, if we have a contrite heart, Jesus will stretch out His hand in forgiveness and His mercy will touch
our lives.

And like the leper, we too should go forth from being healed with a commitment to cleanse ourselves from the
lasting effects of sin. Lent is a time to offer acts of reparation through Prayer, Fasting and Almsgiving so that we might
be purified in all areas of our life and walk with the Gracious Healer, Who sacrificed His life for our sake.
This holy season of Lent is an opportunity to be healed and cleansed on our journey as disciples of Christ. Let
us consider what we can do to offer acts of reparation so that we might be purified and one day partake in the
resurrection of Christ.

— Stewardship Reflections by Catholic Stewardship Consultants