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Jesus the Healer (Part II) “I do will it. Be made clean.”
Far too often we believe the lie that our sins are what keep us from Jesus. We look around Church on Sunday, see everyone else who seems to have it all together, and we think “If they only knew what I was struggling with, they would throw me out in the street.” Or, we think about our family problems, the addictions, in delities, looming breakups or divorces, and can’t help but wonder why we even bother coming to Mass or praying at all. If we are this messed up, what is the point of being a follower of Jesus at all? All too often, the weight of our brokenness threatens to pull us under, and the voices we hear seem to intensify that we are not good enough, that we are posers, that we should just leave this whole Church thing and resign ourselves to our sinful fate.
Into that darkness of sin and separation steps Jesus. Just as He stepped into the darkness of the people who were ostracized because of their leprosy, He steps into our darkness to restore us to light and life. Jesus is not afraid of our mess. He is not afraid of your sin or darkness. Jesus is not threatened by your past, your mistakes or shortcomings or the insanity of your family. Jesus is the One who heals, and the healing that He most desires to share is the forgiveness of your sins. We begin Lent this upcoming week, and our mission is to make a plan for when we will receive the great Sacrament of Healing, Reconciliation. May God bless you!