Can I Look Past the Ugliness of the Needy?

Mark 1:40-45

A leper came to him and kneeling down begged him and said,
"If you wish, you can make me clean."
Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand,
touched the leper, and said to him, 
"I do will it. Be made clean."
The leprosy left him immediately, and he was made clean.
Then, warning him sternly, he dismissed him at once.
Then he said to him, "See that you tell no one anything,
but go, show yourself to the priest
and offer for your cleansing what Moses prescribed;
that will be proof for them."
The man went away and began to publicize the whole matter.
He spread the report abroad
so that it was impossible for Jesus to enter a town openly.
He remained outside in deserted places,
and people kept coming to him from everywhere.

I read this and I wonder what I would do if a leper came to me and asked me for help. Then I think of all the times that I see people on need with signs asking for help. Do I help them? Sometimes yes, other times I do not help them. Why? Well sometimes I just don't have money on me. Perhaps I should make sure that I do so that I am always ready to help someone. I know that there are people that say, "Oh well those people will just use the money for alcohol or drugs." Did Jesus ask before or after his hearings what the people would do with their lives if and when healed? No, Jesus left that choice to those in need. I think to myself that I need to just start loving like Jesus does. I think that is what God wants. If I only helped those who would live a righteous life then I probably wouldn't help many people, and if God only helped me when I was going to live properly, then he probably wouldn't help me very much either. I feel like God is calling us to love because he knows that it is the only thing that really heals. Maybe not today or tomorrow, but he knows that if he keeps loving us that we may come around. I learn from God that I shouldn't love based on how those will use my love or receive it, but rather I should love because through love I will find peace and freedom and God wants me free.

Jesus,

You love me so much. I don't deserve it. Help me to look for those in need today. Help me to love like you do today. Help me to look past what I see and merely see the need. Help me to see my brothers and sisters. Help me to love not just for them but to also start healing my broken heart. I want to be free. I don't want to resent or hate. I want to love, because you have taught me through loving I am set free, I find peace and I make this world a better place. I love you so much Jesus. Thank you.

In Jesus Christ's name I pray,
Amen