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Gospel Reading for January 10, 2025 – Luke 5: 12-16
PITIFUL
It happened that there was a man full of leprosy in one of the towns where Jesus was; and when he saw Jesus, he fell prostrate, pleaded with him, and said, “Lord, if you wish, you can make me clean.” Jesus stretched out his hand, touched him, and said, “I do will it. Be made clean.” And the leprosy left him immediately. Then he ordered him not to tell anyone, but “Go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses prescribed; that will be proof for them.” The report about him spread all the more, and great crowds assembled to listen to him and to be cured of their ailments, but he would withdraw to deserted places to pray.
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During Jesus’ time, leprosy was often viewed as a divine punishment, a mark of sin or impurity. How horrible it is to suffer from the disease itself and to suffer ostracism and discrimination too – a double whammy! Imagine how PITIFUL it is to be a leper in Jesus’ time! Imagine too the love that poured out from the heart of Jesus – although they were not allowed to come near people, Jesus touched him (he did not need to) and healed him of the disease when the leper pleaded with him.
“Lord, if you wish, you can make me clean” was the leper’s plea, and Jesus’ response was, “I do will it. Be made clean.” Let us remember this whenever we fall short of God’s commands. Jesus always makes us clean in the Sacrament of Reconciliation, that is, if we wish him to.
Lord Jesus, cleanse us of all impurities of mind and body as we go through life!
