The leper in today’s Gospel must have led a difficult life. Not only did he have to contend with the disease of leprosy, but he was also likely shunned by the people in his community. It was common, given medical practices at the time, to isolate individuals with diseases to avoid broader contamination. The leper likely suffered both physical and emotional pain. It would have been easy for him to bear a grudge in his loneliness.
Unlike the leper’s community, Jesus sees a person in need of healing and welcomes him. Jesus heals him with a touch of his hand and a few spoken words: “I do will it. Be made clean.” Yet Jesus does not tell the leper to reject religious practices that may have led to his isolation. He does not say, “They
rejected you. From now on, just come straight to me.” Instead, once healed, Jesus sends the leper to a priest and instructs him to follow the ritual prescribed by the law of Moses. The healing allows the leper to rejoin his community, where he belongs.
Jesus calls me to follow his example. Do I tend to see only negative attributes in others? Do I welcome those on the margins, or push them away? Do I consider anyone repulsive? Do I allow God to heal others through my words and actions?
A community that follows Jesus is a community that heals. God calls us to be a Church that not only heals physical ailments but also mends deeper wounds. When we see someone suffering, God calls us to welcome them.
