Friday after Epiphany
1 Jn 5:5-13
Lk 5:12-16
Jesus stretched out his hand, touched him and said, “Of course I want to! Be cured!”
As we leave the old year behind and embark on a new year, I reflect on the trials and tribulations from the past year. Given all that has happened in the past year – both good and not so good – I wonder what the new year has in store. I don’t know what God has planned for me, but when I reflect on today’s reading, I believe that in the face of the troubles that the world is facing, the message that God is trying to tell us is to go forth with compassion.
The leper in today’s reading is symbolic of the weight of our sins that we carry, in probably the worst way possible. Lepers in the time of Jesus were social pariahs. Incurable, they were cast out of society, untouched, reviled, forgotten. The isolation of being unloved and unwanted desecrates the soul. Our sins can make us feel this way – removed from the world, a stain upon us that we cannot erase.
But then Jesus comes and hears our cries. We are so unworthy and untouchable to others, yet he still reaches out to touch us. The world is not willing, therefore we think that Jesus is also not willing. But he is. Not only does he help us, but he loves us. His heart is filled with compassion for us, as it was for the leper. He loves us despite our sins. He reaches out despite our unworthiness. He wants to heal us and make us whole again, one with the world again, but more importantly one with God again. The power of touch is amazing, and while the people refused to touch the leper and kept their distance, Jesus touched the leper, even though we know he could heal from a distance with just a spoken word.
Friends, our God is so full of mercy and compassion for us that it is beyond our understanding. As He has shown us, so must we show mercy and compassion for others, now more than ever. Somewhere out there, someone’s heart is hoping to be accepted, hoping to be loved. Let us bring the light and be the light to others, as Jesus has been to us. And yes, he is willing, even when it feels like everyone has failed us.
(Today’s OXYGEN by Annette Soo)
Prayer: Lord, as you have shown us by example the depth of your compassion, help us learn to be compassionate to others too. Help us understand things from other’s perspectives, that we may be more tolerant and merciful as you have been to us.
Thanksgiving: Thank you Lord, for being willing to help us and accept us when everyone else has shut the door on us. Thank you for your fierce love that still reaches out to us, even in our darkest times.
OXYGEN 
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