THURSDAY 12th JANUARY 2023
Mark 1, 40-45:
“A leper came to Jesus, begging him on his knees, “If you are willing, you can make me clean.” Feeling sorry for him, Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, “I will it; be cleansed”. The leprosy was immediately removed and he was cleansed.
In Jesus’ time, the leper was not only a sick person. He was also an outcast. A “without” without any “with”.
Without rights, without family, without friends, without social relations, even without religion.
And Jesus lets him come to him and takes pity on him.
He restores to him all the “withs” because he restores to him all his dignity as a human person.
Today there are still many “people without” because there are many kinds of leprosy: loneliness, sadness, exclusion, abandonment, poverty, marginalisation etc. Any one of us can be that leper who needs the compassion and touch of Jesus.
Let yourself be touched by him today. And be the hand of Jesus who, by touching other “lepers”, restores consolation and dignity.
Good day to you.
Antonio Sanjuan Cmf
