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Gospel: Luke 5: 12-16
It happened that there was a man full of leprosy in one of the towns where Jesus was;
and when he saw Jesus,
he fell prostrate, pleaded with him, and said,
“Lord, if you wish, you can make me clean.”
Jesus stretched out his hand, touched him, and said,
“I do will it. Be made clean.”
And the leprosy left him immediately.
Then he ordered him not to tell anyone, but
“Go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing
what Moses prescribed; that will be proof for them.”
The report about him spread all the more,
and great crowds assembled to listen to him
and to be cured of their ailments,
but he would withdraw to deserted places to pray.
The Gospel of the Lord.
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Leprosy was a disease that disfigured, and in some cases, slowly ate away at a person’s flesh.
Part of why people intentionally kept their distance from lepers was because they didn’t know how leprosy was contracted. It sparked panic among people, much like COVID does today.
When approaching the edge of town, for example, lepers had to cry out, “Unclean! Unclean!”
A warning to others: stay away.
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The damage caused by this disease was not only physical; it was also psychologically and emotionally devastating.
Lepers lived entirely alone.
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Thus, the physical healing of this man’s body was only the beginning of his journey.
Jesus did his part. He cleansed the man’s flesh.
But now the community must do theirs. They must welcome a man they once feared, seeing him not as a leper, but as a brother.
In that sense, the community must be healed, too; they need to be cleansed from their fear of him.
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It’s not easy making room in our hearts for “lepers” – the black sheep; those who’ve hurt us, but seek forgiveness; the recovering addict; people whom we disagree with; or who are different from us.
But when God acts in their lives, initiating some form of healing, we must continue the good work begun within them.
For example, when a person who’s hurt us asks for forgiveness – give it. God placed the desire for reconciliation in their hearts. Now we should try to welcome them back.
Or when an addict turns sober, a person is released from prison, or a loved one sincerely asks for a second chance –offer it. Give them the opportunity to rebuild trust.
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In each case, Jesus begins the healing, but we’re called to continue it.
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Image credits: (1) Community Tool Box, University of Kansas (2) Osprey Observer (3) Forgiveness and Reconciliation, iBenedictines