The term leprosy was applied to any highly contagious and awful looking skin disease. From experience, people knew that these diseases are contagious. Therefore they isolated a person until he or she was cured. The isolation may seem very cruel to us, but we must remember that they did not know how to cure these diseases, and they did not want anyone to be infected. There was a very elaborate ritual for declaring a “leper” cleansed; this may be found in Leviticus 14. The gospel tells of Jesus’ cure of a leper. He stretched out his hand and touched him! This was forbidden by the Torah for obvious reasons. But Jesus had such compassion that he not only uses words to cure; he touches the afflicted man. In Mark’s gospel, Jesus does not want people to get the wrong idea of his messiah-ship; therefore he tells those he has cured to “keep it quiet.” Unfortunately the cleansed leper shouts it from the roof tops. People press and crowd Jesus; he can scarcely move about freely.
The Church sees “sin” as the spiritual leprosy and only Jesus can cure us. But he can cure us only if we want to be cleansed. Nowadays, too many people deny their leprosy. They act as if there is no sin; they deny that the Church has a right to teach on what is sin. If we are to be cured, we must first admit our problem; then humbly approached the Lord.


QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION

1. Do you seek the Lord Jesus with expectant faith?
2. Who are the outcasts of our day?
3. How do you approach the untouchables and outcasts and those you find difficult to love?
4. Do you offer them mercy and help as Jesus did?
5. Have you felt the touch of Christ healing you? How?

PRAYER
Lord Jesus, inflame my heart with your love and cleanse me of my sins. May I never cease to tell others of your love and mercy.

Amen.

by Hồng Ân Chúa