When John heard in prison what Christ was doing, he sent his disciples to ask him, “Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?”  Jesus replied, “Go back and tell John what you hear and see: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured …” (Matthew 11:2-5).

Unclean!

OK, that would be a pretty unsettling thing to hear, back in the day.  You’re walking down the street, talking to your friends, maybe enjoying a tasty kosher snack, when you hear that word yelled out.

Unclean!

The call would have a certain edge to it—disgust, shock, a touch of panic.  It meant that somewhere nearby there was a person with leprosy or some other skin ickiness, and you were gonna want to clear out of the way pronto.  This person was blemished, damaged, unacceptable,

Unclean

and if you came into contact with them, you would be, too.

Now imagine that you are the unclean one.  You are diseased, and there’s nothing you can do about it.  You walk through life knowing that your very self is filthy, inside and out.  No matter how hard you scrub, you just can’t get rid of it.  No matter what clothes or makeup or mask you wear, you just can’t hide the fact that you are blemished, damaged, unacceptable,

Unclean.

Oh yeah…that was you.

And me.

Until Jesus.

But that is no longer you.

Now you are cured.

Now you are whole.

Now you are clean.

Now you are Beloved.

Take that into your Monday.