Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

-
Cleansing Christ
Mark 1:40-45
Vs 42 b,  “ I am Willing” he said “Be Clean”  immediately the leprosy left him and he was cured.
 
There was a culture followed in North India where a person diagnosed of leprosy had to leave his family and go to a mountain called Rishikesh, where they would spend their remaining life. Their wife had to live the life of a widow wearing white clothes. Their children would accompany the fathers till the valley and then come back. It was a similar culture followed among Jewish people, where a leper was considered unclean and was ostracized from the society. People threw rocks at these lepers so that they do not come in contact with any person. If anyone comes in contact with a leper, they would also be considered unclean as per the law and be declared unfit to participate in religious and social activities.
In the passage for today’s meditation too we see an encounter between Jesus and a leper. During those days, all skin diseases were considered as a form of leprosy. A leper had to wear torn dresses and live outside the colony (Leviticus 13: 1-32). Here the leper approaches Jesus and begs for purification. Jesus touches him and declares him to be clean at which the leper is cured. This was one of the miracles Jesus did during the last days of his ministry in Capernaum.
There is a story shared by Dr. Somerville who served amidst leprosy persons. Once a leprosy affected beggar came to Dr. Somerville’s house. Seeing the beggar, doctor walked towards him, touched his shoulder and asked “Brother, what can I do for you?” The leper replied, “I don’t want anything because I got what I desired”. Confused the doctor asked, “What have you got?” The leper replied, “I had been longing for a touch and for someone calling out to me. You touched me and called me ‘brother’. That is what I desired and I got it before I asked”.
To the leper’s begging request, Jesus replies, "I'm willing". Jesus is always ready to purify our thoughts and actions. The real value of a person is inside, not outside. Although a person's body may be deceased or deformed, the person inside is no less valuable to god. We are all people with “Leprosy” because we have all been deformed by the ugliness of sin. But by Jesus’s touch we shall be cleaned. In the law it is said that contact with any unclean person made a person unclean too. But Jesus touching the unclean made the unclean pure. Mother Teresa is one person who followed the paths of Jesus touching many unclean, thus purifying their hearts and souls. Let us also free ourselves from all leprosy and be a healing touch in the lives of others.
 
PRAYER
Lord we are willing . Make us clean by your touch and let us be free
In Jesus Name we pray Amen.
 
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
Lent is a time of sanctification. Let us get purified  ourselves  and then others through the word of God.

Rev.Johnson Abraham. Vicar
The Mar Thoma Church Staten island.

Christian Education Forum, Diocese of NAE of the Mar Thoma Church

Popular posts from this blog

Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

-
  Constant, patient and welcoming love of God   St. Luke 15: 11-32  V.21: And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ The parable of the ‘Prodigal son’ is one of the most frequently quoted parables that Jesus told His disciples. The parable contains the rich mine of human virtues and emotions. This parable is lived and re-lived in progressing civilizations from time immemorial and continuing. It brings out in vivid detail the pathetic depth of human sinfulness and the glorious heights of God’s forgiveness.      As a story of human nature, fathers are generally merciful to their children in any circumstance. They are very protective and are eager to provide for and secure the lives of their offspring. Jesus is telling this parable to underscore the superlative love of God to His children. The nature of such love is reiterated by Jesus in Matthew 7:11. Humankind wh...
Read more

Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

-
Revelation for Liberation Acts 27:18-26 Sherine Thomas Long Island MTC, NY 20  When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and no small tempest raged, all hope of our being saved was at last abandoned. “After winter comes the summer.  After night comes the dawn.  And after every storm, there comes clear open skies” so said a Scottish clergyman from the 1600s. It’s been said, that hope can sometimes be the most dangerous weapon.  However, it’s sometimes the hardest weapon to carry when you’re living with the loss of a loved one, something that almost feels like a terrible nightmare that’ll never go away.  It’s a weapon difficult to carry when day in and day out no one seems to hear or see those tears that are shed or silent cries that are made during a heartfelt prayer. It’s a weapon difficult to carry as you see your loved one lying on that hospital bed.  It’s a weapon difficult to carry as you search and seek out answers to tel...
Read more

Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

-
PRIESTHOOD: THE ANOINTED MINISTRY Exodus 40:12-16 Bring Aaron and his sons to the entrance to the Tent of Meeting... wash them with water. Then dress Aaron in the sacred garments, anoint him and consecrate him so he may serve me as priest (Exodus 40: 12-13). Priesthood among the people of God was a divine command and initiation. God wanted some people to be separated for the special ministry among his people. God appointed Aaron and his descendants to take up this kind of ministry among the people of God. Priests are always separated and appointed as channels that connect God with his people. All throughout the history of Israel, priests played an important role in connecting people with God and to lead and guide them in the statutes of God. But there are incidents in the Bible where the priests failed in their duties and that led the people to go away from God. So the priests have a special and significant ministry to perform in this world among his people. Two important things...
Read more