Today’s Scripture Readings

Gospel Reading

NRSV

— 40 A leper came to him begging him, and kneeling he said to him, ‘If you choose, you can make me clean.’ Moved with pity, Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, and said to him, ‘I do choose. Be made clean!’ Immediately the leprosy left him, and he was made clean. After sternly warning him he sent him away at once, saying to him, ‘See that you say nothing to anyone; but go, show yourself to the priest, and offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.’ But he went out and began to proclaim it freely, and to spread the word, so that Jesus could no longer go into a town openly, but stayed out in the country; and people came to him from every quarter.

The first thing that strikes me in this encounter is the humility of the leper when he approached Jesus. “If you choose, you can make me clean”. He would have known that it was a risk for Jesus to come close to him. Leprosy is a contagious disease, but Jesus chose to reach out his hands and touch him and he was healed. This man’s life changed in an instant: the social isolation gone, the stigma gone, he could reconnect with his family, he could earn a wage, all changed by the touch of one man. All too much to be kept secret. He shouted about it from the mountain tops. Everyone near and far would have heard about it, even though Jesus warned him sternly to say nothing.

Such a tough spot to be put in. The man would not have realised the effect his actions had on Jesus: running from crowds, trying to find some peace, while many others would be hunting him down, hoping for their chance at a similar miracle.

The lesson for us to learn from this is also a little tough to discern. Psalms 98 and 66, as well as Isaiah 12 exhort us to “shout about the wonders of the Lord”. And I think that is often our first thought…”I gotta tell somebody, what Jesus did for me!”

But maybe there are clues in the rest of Jesus’ instruction? “Go and see the priest, make an offering.” Maybe when we see the work of God in our life, sit in the temple, in humility, thanking God for His marvellous works.