Healing the Leper
January 10, 2025 - Friday after Epiphany
Luke 5:12–16
Imagine walking past a young man standing outside a bustling shopping center, holding a small sign: “I have AIDS. Would you give me a hug?” The crowd moves around him like water around a rock, avoiding eye contact, keeping their distance. Some whisper to each other, debating whether to approach, but few dare. Amidst the hesitation, an elderly woman steps forward. She embraces him warmly, her voice trembling with compassion as she says, “I feel so sorry for you.” Her gesture is heartfelt, but she knows her embrace cannot cure him.
This scene resonates deeply with the story of the leper in today’s Gospel. In ancient Israel, lepers were outcasts by law. The Book of Leviticus prescribed strict guidelines: they must wear torn clothes, live apart from the community, and cry out “Unclean!” to warn others of their presence (Lev. 13:45–46). Their lives were defined by loneliness and fear, their touch deemed dangerous.
The risks of leprosy were real. Even in more recent history, figures like Saint Damien De Veuster, who served a leper colony in Molokai, succumbed to the disease himself. Such stories remind us of the courage required to touch those the world deems untouchable.
In today’s Gospel, however, Jesus does the unthinkable. A leper approaches Him, desperate to escape his isolation and despair. Instead of stepping back, Jesus reaches out and touches him. But Jesus is not merely compassionate; He is transformative. Unlike the elderly woman in Beijing who offered sympathy, Jesus offers healing. In that moment, He restores not only the man’s health but also his dignity and place in the community.
This act embodies the heart of Christian faith. As Matthew reminds us, “He took up our infirmities and carried our diseases” (Matt. 8:17). Paul echoes this profound truth, writing: “God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Cor. 5:21). Jesus does more than empathize with our suffering—He takes it upon Himself to redeem and transform it.
The crowd is drawn to Jesus because He offers what no one else can: healing, hope, and restoration. How about us? Are we willing to bring our own wounds, fears, and struggles to Him? Jeremiah’s prayer captures the cry of every heart: “Heal me, O Lord, and I will be healed; save me, and I will be saved” (Jer. 17:14).
Let this Gospel inspire us to approach Jesus with confidence. He is not afraid of our brokenness. In His touch lies the power to heal not only our bodies but also our hearts and souls. Let us bring our lives to Him today, trusting in His boundless mercy and love, and experience the transformation that only He can bring.