TOUCH MY LIFE, LORD
The leper we hear about in the Gospel today inspires me. He has great courage to seek the Lord. He is a leper, an outcast. If he comes in contact with people, he not only places himself at risk; he sets others at risk. This was strongly condemned by law such that no leper must be in contact with anyone. What a lonely and isolated life a leper has.
But this leper in today’s reading is certainly a courageous person. He goes to Jesus, begging Him to heal him and set him free from his misery. What courage, what faith, what audacity!
Of course, Jesus heals. He wants to heal. He is compassionate, sympathetic and merciful. The leper is healed immediately. He is asked to remain silent about this and go and fulfill the requirements of the law. How can he keep quiet? His life is never the same, completely free from this skin condition, and reinstated into society. Consequently, everyone knows about this and Jesus has trouble with publicity. He stays in places where nobody lived.
All of us are, in one way or another, like this leper. Perhaps we don’t have the physical condition of leprosy, but by virtue of our sinfulness we are lepers. We were isolated and outcasts of God. However, God, in His graciousness and benevolent love, has freed us from the “leprosy of sin.” He has stretched out His hand to save us. What a beautiful image this is — God stretching out His hand to save us. God stretched out His hand through Moses over the Red Sea. Jesus stretched out His hand to save Peter from drowning. He stretched out His hands to indicate His disciples. And He stretched out His hands on the Cross and gives us life and freedom.
“Be made clean!” The words spoken to the leper can ring in our ears, too. Jesus stretches out His hand to you in your need for love, mercy, comfort or guidance. See Him stretching out His hand and take hold of it. Grasp it with all your strength and never let it go. The hand of God is never too short to save us. Fr. Brian Steele, MGL
REFLECTION QUESTION: What leprosy of sin and evil do you need the Lord to heal you of? Ask Him to stretch out His hand in your life.
Lord Jesus, in Your compassion, heal me and forgive my sins. Amen.
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