Willing to forgive, willing to cleanse

“Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.”

Reaching out his hand, Jesus touched him, saying, “I am willing; be made clean”… (Luke 5:12-13)

It strikes me that those words sum up much of this chapter.

Jesus encountered three sinners, Peter, the paralytic, and Matthew.

Just as the leper was covered with leprosy, Peter, the paralytic, and Matthew were covered with their sin.

And just as Jesus cleansed the leper of his leprosy, he cleansed the three men of their sins.

Do we ever look at ourselves, and cry out to Jesus, “Depart from me, Lord! I am so sinful! How can you possibly accept me? How can you possibly forgive me?”

And yet Jesus, in his grace, reaches out his nail-scarred hand and says, “I am willing. Be clean.”

More, he tells us, “From now on, let us catch people together for God’s Kingdom that they may know this same grace I’ve given you.”

With gratitude and joy, let us say with Isaiah, “Here am I. Send me.”  (Isaiah 6:1-8)