Mark 1:40-45
REFLECT
“A leper came to Jesus [and kneeling down] begged him and said, ‘If you wish, you can make me clean’” (Mk 1:40). In portraying this miracle in the popular television series The Chosen, the disciples shield Christ from the leper when he first approaches. They beg the Lord to stay away from him, shouting, “Rabbi, no!” We can have the same reaction, trying to “protect” Christ from the mess of our lives. This Lent we come to him exactly as we are, wounds and all. There’s no need to defend Christ from anything in our lives. He can handle it all. We must be like the leper though, and run to him, begging him to make us clean.
PRAY
Lord Jesus, as we embark on this Lenten journey, may we approach you with the faith of the leper, humbly seeking your healing touch. May we, too, be made clean through your boundless compassion and love. Amen.
LIVE
Create a Lenten calendar of prayer intentions for this Lent. Assign each day to a particular person or need.