Reflect today on your closest relationships in life

A leper came to him and kneeling down he begged him and said, "If you wish, you can make me clean." Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand, touched the leper and said to him: “I want it. Be purified. ”Mark 1: 40–41

If we come to our divine Lord in faith, kneel before Him and present our need to Him, then we too will receive the same answer given to this leper: “I want it. Be purified. These words should give us hope in the midst of every challenge in life.

What does our Lord want for you? And what do you want to make pure in your life? This story of the leper who comes from Jesus does not mean that our Lord will grant every request we make of him. Instead, he reveals that he wants to make us clean of what ails us most. Leprosy in this story should be seen as a symbol of the spiritual evils that plague your soul. First of all, it should be seen as a symbol of the sin in your life that has become habitual and slowly does great harm to your soul.

At that time, leprosy not only caused severe physical harm to a person, but also had the effect of isolating them from the community. They had to live apart from others who did not have the disease; and if they approached others, they had to show that they were lepers with certain external signs so that people would not come in contact with them. Thus, leprosy had both personal and community ramifications.

The same is true for many habitual sins. Sin damages our souls, but it also affects our relationships. For example, a person who is routinely harsh, judgmental, sarcastic, or similar will experience the negative effects of these sins on their relationships.

Returning to Jesus' statement above, consider that sin that not only affects your soul the most, but your relationships as well. To that sin, Jesus wishes to tell you: "Be purified". He wants to strengthen your relationship by cleansing the sin in your soul. And all it takes for Him to do that is for you to turn to Him on your knees and present your sin to Him. This is especially true in the sacrament of reconciliation.

Reflect today on your closest relationships in life. And then consider which of your sins most directly hurts those relationships. Whatever comes to your mind, you can be sure that Jesus wants to get rid of that spiritual leprosy in your soul.

My divine Lord, help me to see what is inside me that damages my relationships with others the most. Help me see what causes isolation and pain. Give me the humility to see this and the confidence I need to turn to You to confess it and seek your healing. You and only You can free me from my sin, so I turn to You with confidence and surrender. With faith, I also look forward to Your healing words: “I want it. Be purified. "Jesus I believe in you.