“A leper came to Jesus and kneeling down begged him and said,
‘If you wish, you can make me clean.’
Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand,
touched him, and said to him,
‘I do will it. Be made clean.’
The leprosy left him immediately, and he was made clean.” Mark 1:40-42
When we hear mention of how vital it is to the safety of the people around us all to get the COVID-19 vaccine, let us think of how much we need to allow the grace and love of God’s goodness to flow, not only within us, but also from us via our thoughts, words and actions, healing and eliminating the ‘leprosies’ of hatred and injustice from our culture.
Let us be mindful of the Jesus-provided ‘vaccines’ that not only protect us, but also heal our own ‘leprosies’ that keep us from full communion with God, our Father, and from full communion with each other.
Psalm 50
Take pity on me, Lord, in your mercy;
in your abundance of mercy wipe out my guilt.
Wash me ever more from my guilt
and cleanse me from my sin.
For I know how guilty I am:
my sin is always before me.
Against you, you alone have I sinned,
and I have done evil in your sight.
You love truth in the heart,
and deep within me you have shown me your wisdom.
You will sprinkle me with hyssop, and I will be made clean;
you will wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
You will make me hear the sound of joy and gladness;
the bones you have crushed will rejoice.
Turn your face away from my sins
and wipe out all my transgressions;
create a pure heart in me, God,
put a steadfast spirit into me.
Do not send me away from your presence,
or withdraw your holy spirit from me;
give me again the joy of your salvation,
and be ready to strengthen me with your spirit.
I will teach the unjust your ways,
and the impious will return to you.
Free me from the guilt of bloodshed, God, God my saviour,
and my voice will glory in your justice.
Open my lips, Lord,
and my mouth will proclaim your praise;
for you do not delight in sacrifices:
if I offered you a burnt offering, it would not please you.
The true sacrifice is a broken spirit:
a contrite and humble heart, O God, you will not refuse.
Be pleased, Lord, to look kindly on Zion,
so that the walls of Jerusalem can be rebuilt,
Then indeed you will accept the proper sacrifices, gifts and burnt offerings;
then indeed will bullocks be laid upon your altar.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen.
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