It is 12th January 2017 . The readings are from Hebrews 3:7-14; and the Gospel from Mark 1:40-45. The first reading points out how people of Israel rebelled against God and Moses. It was a wilful pushing God away from their lives. When we continue to live in sin, we harden our hearts and develop a heart of unbelief. The unbelieving heart will not enjoy the blessings of God’s rest. The life here on earth is very challenging and frustrating yet we need to encourage one another to remain faithful to God and Christ to enjoy God’s blessings in full. Most of our lives’ frustrations and disappointments have spilled over into our relationship and response to God. We need to be aware of the deceitfulness of the evil one. We need to obey God at all times more particularly when things are getting tough. We need to push forward with all our strength to accept God’s forgiveness and to allow God to enter into every curve of our lives. Beware of hardening of our hearts due to gradual distancing ourselves from God and one another. The responsorial Psalm prays, “O that today you would listen to God’s voice! Harden not your hearts.” (Ps. 94:8). In the Gospel we meet our Lord Jesus who cures a leper. Jesus wants to respond to God’s grace without any outside compulsion and force. God expects us to be faithfully coming closer to God in faith which needs to be displayed in Christ Jesus. What is required is that of commitment to Christ not just an emotional admiration to the one who heals. The touch of God is only to remind ourselves what is inside of us is no less value to God even though one could be deformed by a serious sickness outside. No sickness is disgusting for God except our sins. Jesus offers the opportunity to be healed by Him. God wants to touch us and make us perfect through Jesus. Whatever terrifying sickness we have Jesus wants to heal us when we are willing to accept the offer of God’s forgiveness. We all have some kind of deformity either spiritual or physical, we need the touch and forgiveness of Jesus. May we approach Him with faith and be healed. May you have a good day.