The Cleansing of a Leper

Today's Reflections

The Cleansing of a Leper

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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:

Moved with pity. When faced with the misery and petition of the leper, Jesus is moved with pity and responds by curing the leper. Jesus does not just do good. His good deeds come from a compassionate heart.

As with Jesus, so with us, it is not only what we do that matters. What matters even more is the love and compassion with which we do it.

Jesus tells the cured leper not to tell people about what he did to him. How different we often are! We want our good deeds to be broadcast immediately. Let us not seek publicity as a reward for our good deeds. Let us do good just to be able to help others.

Ask the Holy Spirit to give you

a compassionate heart like that of Jesus.