"I DO WILL IT. BE MADE CLEAN."A leper came to Jesus and, kneeling down, begged him and said, “If you wish, you can make me clean.” Moved with pity, Jesus stretched out His hand, touched him, and said to him, “I do will it. Be made clean.” The leprosy left him immediately, and he was made clean.
Then, warning him sternly, Jesus dismissed him at once. 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.”
The man went away and began to publicize the whole matter. He spread the report everywhere 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.
More than in our society, the lepers in the time of Jesus were condemned to a terrible rejection by the rest of society. Unlike all the people in His time, Jesus let the lepers approach Him, and He healed many of them in body and soul.
Today, there are many types of leprosy afflicting our society: physical leprosy, handicaps, drug addiction, extreme poverty and ignorance. As Disciples of the Lord, we are expected to show to the many outcasts in our midst the same concern and practical love which He showed to the lepers of His time.
May His acts of compassion bring us ever closer to the Divine Model and instill in all of us an active compassion toward those who are marginalized, as Jesus has declared, "Whatsoever you do to the least of your brethren, you have done it unto Me."
Then, warning him sternly, Jesus dismissed him at once. 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.”
The man went away and began to publicize the whole matter. He spread the report everywhere 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.
More than in our society, the lepers in the time of Jesus were condemned to a terrible rejection by the rest of society. Unlike all the people in His time, Jesus let the lepers approach Him, and He healed many of them in body and soul.
Today, there are many types of leprosy afflicting our society: physical leprosy, handicaps, drug addiction, extreme poverty and ignorance. As Disciples of the Lord, we are expected to show to the many outcasts in our midst the same concern and practical love which He showed to the lepers of His time.
May His acts of compassion bring us ever closer to the Divine Model and instill in all of us an active compassion toward those who are marginalized, as Jesus has declared, "Whatsoever you do to the least of your brethren, you have done it unto Me."
Euchalette, 15 February 2009
WORD AND LIFE PUBLICATIONS
MCPO Box 1820, Makati City 1258, Philippines
