Every age of man seems to have an illness, which strikes terror into
people's hearts.
Undoubtedly, the long-term record-holder of
humankind's most loathsome disease is held by leprosy. For thousands of
years, fear of contaminating those who were healthy kept the leper
isolated and ignored.
Not even beloved saints seem invulnerable
to the fear leprosy engendered. Case in point is St. Francis of Assisi.
One afternoon he came upon a leper as he walked along a narrow mountain
path. Although ready to face popes and powers, Francis was terrified of
coming into close contact with this ill man. Instinctively, his heart
shrank back, and his body recoiled at the prospect of touching this
individual, who had been horribly disfigured by the disease.
Ashamed of himself, Francis rallied. He turned, ran back, and threw his
arms over the fellow's shoulders. He kissed him upon the cheek and then
started to continue his journey. Francis had gone only a few steps,
before he looked back for a final glance at this fellow, who had changed
his heart.
Ever after Francis was convinced that leper was the
Lord Jesus. That's because when he looked back, there was nobody there
and the road was empty.
The loving action of Francis was a
beautiful example of Christian living and giving. Still, what Francis
did is little, when it is compared to the actions of our Savior. St.
Francis embraced the leper and moved on, while Jesus became one of us
and lived His entire life like us.
The step He made in leaving
heaven's high throne to be born in Bethlehem is a descent we cannot
imagine, replacing the perfection of paradise with a world soured by sin
and sadness. Jesus' birth gives us an indication of the amount and
quality of His love and commitment.
Look where you wish, no other
religion of the world speaks of such an act from any of its deities.
No other faith can tell its followers: "Look into the manger and see
this thing which has come to pass, which the Lord has done to save you"
(see Luke 2:15).
Christianity -- and Christianity alone -- says,
"We have a Redeemer who not only felt sorry for sin-sick souls, He
actually took that sickness into Himself and carried it until it was
gone and He could say, 'It is finished.'"
THE PRAYER: Dear Lord
Jesus, You entered this world to change my sin-diseased destiny. Your
substitution has granted me forgiveness so that I, freed from the devil
and death, may worship You and reflect Your love to others. May that be
my goal and desire. In Your Name. Amen.
Pastor Ken Klaus
Lutheran Hour Ministries All rights reserved;
not to be duplicated without permission.
