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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.
Luke 5:12-13
Dearest Lord Jesus, today I pray for the many other people living "full of leprosy" among us - people separated from the rest of us because of so many reasons like the poor and homeless and others living in the margins of the society, people we have ostracized because of afflictions we are ignorant of like those with AIDS/HIV, the drug dependents, the ex-convicts who could not reintegrate in the society and others we simply do not want to deal with because they are different from us in color and beliefs. Worst, even in our own circles of family and friends, there are some people we treat like lepers - persons supposed to be dear to us yet we always hurt, betrayed and unkind to.
So many people these days are living like those people "full of leprosy" during your time who are not welcomed at all in the society and in their family. Use us, Jesus, use our hands, our arms, our limbs, our total selves to "touch" them, to make them experience your love not just an a concept or an idea up in the air but a reality one could really feel like touching.
Let us be more loving, Lord Jesus, like you who would love sincerely so that the lepers among us may feel your touch and embrace; so many people are totally unaware of what is to be touched by God because so many of us you have blessed have become so selfish and self-centered, many among us are turning away from you, refusing to believe in you, denying your reality as truly divine and truly human, a God detached from humanity.
Touch us again, Jesus, awaken our senses to overcome all the indifferences and cynicisms afflicting us so we begin touching others too with your love and kindness. Amen.
