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<v SPEAKER_00>There's something heartbreaking about the first reading.

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<v SPEAKER_00>The city of Jerusalem is burning.

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<v SPEAKER_00>The temple, the very place where God's presence dwelt among his people, is consumed by fire.

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<v SPEAKER_00>The palace is destroyed, the walls are torn down.

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<v SPEAKER_00>The king watches his own sons die before his eyes, and his own eyes are taken from him.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Everything is lost.

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<v SPEAKER_00>But this tragedy does not happen overnight.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Jerusalem did not fall because Babylon was stronger.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Jerusalem fell because for generations the people slowly turned away from God.

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<v SPEAKER_00>That's how sin usually works.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Very few people wake up one morning and decide to ruin their lives.

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<v SPEAKER_00>It happens little by little, one compromise, one excuse, one neglected prayer, one resentment that is never forgiven, one habit that slowly becomes a chain of addiction.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Sin is not simply breaking God's rule.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Sin slowly tears down the walls that protect the soul.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Eventually the once seemed impossible becomes inedible.

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<v SPEAKER_00>The destruction of Jerusalem is not simply ancient history, it's a warning about ever to every human heart, because every one of us has walls that protect us.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Prayers, the sacraments, confession, the Eucharist, daily fidelity.

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<v SPEAKER_00>When those walls are neglected, the enemy doesn't need to force his way in.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Eventually the walls collapse on their own.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Then the gospel gives us an extraordinary contrast.

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<v SPEAKER_00>A leper comes to Jesus.

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<v SPEAKER_00>You have to remember leprosy in the scriptures becomes a powerful image of sin.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Why?

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<v SPEAKER_00>Because it isolates, it spreads, it slowly destroys, and makes a person believe they no longer belong.

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<v SPEAKER_00>But notice something beautiful.

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<v SPEAKER_00>The leper says, Lord, if you wish, you can make me clean.

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<v SPEAKER_00>He doesn't question Christ's power.

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<v SPEAKER_00>He only wonders about his willingness.

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<v SPEAKER_00>How many people shriek secretly wonder the same thing?

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<v SPEAKER_00>I know God can forgive other people.

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<v SPEAKER_00>I know he heals saints, but after what I've done, would he would he really want to heal me?

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<v SPEAKER_00>Well, Jesus answers with only four words I will do it.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Literally, I want to.

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<v SPEAKER_00>God does not reluctantly forgive.

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<v SPEAKER_00>He desires to restore.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Then comes the most astonishing moment.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Jesus touches the leper.

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<v SPEAKER_00>No one in those days touched a leper.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Touching one made you ceremonially unclean.

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<v SPEAKER_00>But with Jesus the opposite happens.

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<v SPEAKER_00>The uncleanness does not pass to him.

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<v SPEAKER_00>His holiness passes to the leper.

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<v SPEAKER_00>That is the gospel.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Jesus is not contaminated by our sin.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Our lives are transformed by his mercy.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Every confession is another moment where Christ reaches out his hand and says, I will do it.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Be made clean.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Perhaps some of us have slowly allowed the walls of our spiritual life to crumble.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Maybe our prayer life is not what it should be.

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<v SPEAKER_00>It's occasional.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Maybe we've been away from the confessional.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Maybe we've convinced ourselves that we've gone too far.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Today's gospel says otherwise.

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<v SPEAKER_00>No matter how much has been destroyed, Christ can always rebuild.

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<v SPEAKER_00>No matter how deep the wound, Christ can heal.

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<v SPEAKER_00>No matter how long we've carried our spiritual leprosy, his mercy is greater.

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<v SPEAKER_00>You see, the city of Jerusalem had to rebuild stone by stone.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Our hearts are rebuilt the same way.

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<v SPEAKER_00>One confession, one holy communion, one act of faith, one day of fidelity.

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<v SPEAKER_00>And Christ, who once stretched out his hand to touch the leper, still stretches his hand today to you.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Not to condemn us, but to restore what sin has destroyed.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Amen.