The Cleansing of a Leper

Today's Reflections

 

 

The Cleansing of a Leper

Mk 1:40-45

40A leper came to [Jesus] [and kneeling down] begged him and said, “If you wish, you can make me clean.” ⁴¹Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand, touched him, and said to him, “I do will it. Be made clean.” ⁴²The leprosy left him immediately, and he was made clean. ⁴³Then, warning him sternly, he dismissed him at once. ⁴⁴Then 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.”

45The 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.

Reflection:

Be made clean. The Jewish people consider leprosy as a curse from God, a punishment for sin. Lepers are regarded as living dead, unclean and impure, unworthy of participating at worship. They are social outcasts: they cannot enter the city or the Temple; they are forbidden to speak or mingle with family and community.

Jesus goes against the prevailing custom. Knowing the leper’s physical and social suffering, Jesus is moved with pity, stretches out his hand, touches him, and heals him. He reinstates the man to the community and restores his dignity as a child of God.

“I do will it. Be made clean.” Jesus wills that we be made clean: our hearts from bitterness, our eyes from malice, our minds from revenge, our lips from lies, our hands from hurting others, and our lives from selfishness and slavery to sin.

Tell Jesus in prayer what you want him to cleanse in you.