Our readings today center on leprosy.  Leprosy is a physical affliction that eats away at the body until the person disintegrates and dies.

     Jesus cures the physical ills of the leper.  This story is a symbol of what Jesus came to do on the grand scale - to cure what is eating away at the human spirit.

     When a person is out of sorts, grumpy, complaining, not being nice, we might ask them, "Hey, what's eating you?"  Or, more precisely, what is it that is taking away your peace of mind.

"What is keeping you from being happy?"

1) Anger is a form of leprosy. "I'm mad.  I'm angry.  I'm going to get even."

    The cure is Understanding.  We say to ourselves, "All people have problems.  I will try to understand them." 

2) Unforgiveness is a form of leprosy -- "It's their fault. I will not forget. I will not pardon them."                                                              

    The cure is mercy.  We mean what we say. "Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us." 

3) Fear is a form of leprosy.  "What will others think?  What if I fail?  What if I'm not liked?  What about the unknown?"

    The cure is courage.  Courage leads us to say, "I am not afraid.  God is with me.  It doesn't matter what others think.  I can handle set-backs." 

4) Prejudice is a form of leprosy.  "Those people are different.  You can't trust them.  They are inferior to us."

    The cure is an awareness of our brotherhood and sisterhood under our Father God.  We say, "Look at the variety of brothers and sisters God gave me.  All colors and shapes and sizes.  Isn't God creative!" 

5) Self-doubt is a form of leprosy.  "I can't.  I'm no good.  I'm nobody.  I'm a failure."  Trash-talking to ourselves.                                                        

    The cure is self-confidence in Christ.   "I am baptized, a beloved child of God.  Greatness has been given me.  I have a lot to give."

6) A Critical attitude is a form of leprosy.  "Well, look at them.  They aren't doing things the way things are supposed to be done."

    A non-judging attitude is the cure.  We tell ourselves, "I'm not going to judge.  I'd better check out that beam in my own eye before I criticize the speck in my brother's eye."

7) Gossip is a form of leprosy.  "Did you hear.?  Did you know.?  Let me tell you the rumor that's going around."

    Appreciation of others is the cure.   We tell ourselves, "Deep down, every one is beautiful.  I'll look for that good, and then tell others the good I see in them."

8) Self-pity is a form of leprosy.  "Oh, poor me.  Life is unfair.  Nobody cares."

   The cure is gratitude.  We reflect, "Look at all the blessings I have received.  I am so grateful."

9) Selfishness us a form of leprosy.  "Hey, I'm #1.  I've got to look out for myself.  No one else will."

     Love is the cure.  Our attitude is, "Hi, what can I do for you?"

10) Depression is a form of leprosy.  "I am down in the dumps.  I can't seem to amount to much.  I am sad, fed up, discouraged."

     The cure is to look at the crucifix.  God so loved you and me that he sent his Son to die on the cross for us.  "While we were yet sinners," Paul tells us, "Christ died for us."  We are loved by God.  Unconditionally.  This is the Good News to dispel all inner darkness.  Emmanuel.  God is with us.

     No matter what our inner ailments, the Lord is offering us lots of cures.  He empowers us to be.

-- understanding,

-- forgiving,

-- courageous,

-- believing in our brotherhood and sisterhood,

-- self-confident,

-- appreciative,

-- non-judging,

-- grateful,

-- loving,

-- and aware of God's love.

     We are a work in progress.  As we approach the season of Lent, we become more aware of our imperfections, weaknesses, and sins.  So we give all these to Christ that he may nail them to the cross and destroy them.  Then we are to let the risen Christ enter into our hearts more fully, take over our lives more completely, and proclaim to others what that feels like.