6th Sunday after the Epiphany (Mark 1:40-45)  2/12/2012

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The leper said to Jesus, “If you choose, you can make me clean.” (Mark 1:40) “If you choose…” Every day we are all confronted with decisions that must be made; in the course of our lives we discover new opportunities that cause us to make choices. Two weeks ago today I had the opportunity to spend the morning education hour with the J2A Youth group, helping them prepare for their approaching confirmation at the Cathedral. Our discussion was based upon a lesson that was entitled, “Decisions, Decisions.” As young adults in the church, they are already becoming familiar with the idea that their decisions are more informed by their own choices than with the choices of their parents or their guardians. And they, like the rest of us, have some choices to make. The Sacrament of Confirmation, according to the Prayer Book, is a mature commitment to Christ; a choice to affirm and renew the vows taken at one’s Baptism. The lesson prepared and challenged these young folks to consider how they might react when confronted with choices, especially choices made under difficult circumstances.  Every Christian has choices to make and many of the choices we are confronted with are not easy choices; and they are not always choices that are obvious or popular to the society in which we live. Continue reading →