My big toe has caused me a great amount of discomfort lately. So, at my wife’s urging, I went to a podiatrist who gave me some foot pads and an injection in the toe. Surprise! My foot is 80% better. Still, it is not cured but I am very happy that I listened and went to the Doctor.
There are two major lessons to learn from our readings in today’s Gospel. First, we have to have the faith to ask for a cure and the confidence to accept the results. Second, we have to listen to the doctor and take our medicine. In our real life with Christ, we have to ask Him first. Second, we have to listen to Him and do what He says.
In my case I suffered for months before going to the doctor. As an older person it seems that most of my life is spent with doctor visits. My imagination got the better of me. I imagined major surgery with long recovery. I am too stressed for time to put up with a long recovery. So I just put up with the discomfort. I didn’t dream the cure was so simple for me. I also followed the doctor’s order.
Now there is a possibility that the “cure” for my foot is not permanent. I may have to go back to the doctor who helped me to see if there is something else to be done. The leper in our Gospel was cured completely. He was “All In” when it came to Jesus curing his leprosy.
Just like the leper we have to be “All In” with a cure for our souls. We also must have a relationship with our Savior to make the cure work. A hundred years from now my ultimate cure is in Heaven, but for the present I have to accept the fact that there may not be a permanent cure and I will have to live with a partial recovery as part of God’s plan for my salvation.
My wife, Anna, shared the perfect scripture to compliment our readings today, 1Peter 5:7 Cast all your worries upon Him because He cares for you. Just like He cared for the leper.
God Love You Always
Bob Burford
PS: Please pray for cancer victims and their caregivers. Please pray for the salvation and physical and emotional health of the Ukrainian people and their soldiers. Pray for the Conversion of Russian and the salvation and emotional health of their people and soldiers. Pray for peace.
