ARE YOU A LEPER?

One of them, realizing he had been healed, returned, glorifying God in a loud voice. – Luke 17:15

Lepers were outcasts. They were treated as foremost sinners, manifestations of which were obvious on their skin. Today’s “spiritual lepers” don’t stand at a distance. They mingle with people and appear normal. Yet inside they’re the ones decaying with compounded sins and feelings of emptiness. The symptoms? Let’s spell out L-E-P-E-R:
L-ust satisfies the cravings of the body, both food and sexual, leading to poor health and at worst depression.
E-nvy desires what others have while ignoring what one has. Shakespeare coined the expression “green-with-envy” because this tarnishes one’s soul with insatiable want. 
P-ride makes people oblivious of others. They deprive themselves of authentic joy earned through service.
E-nticements create the saddest people who can only afford the costly things. Real happiness is both costless and priceless.
R-esentment accounts for the things that hurt and brings on physical maladies. The saying is true: the best cure is forgiveness.
Are you a LEPER? What’s your symptom? Avail of God’s healing mercy and grace. Obet Cabrillas (kpreacherobet@gmail.com)

REFLECTION:
What symptoms of sinfulness do I feel right now? It might be time to approach the throne of grace. 

Have mercy on me, O Lord, and deliver me from the roots of decay inside me.