When Christ sent his apostles to heal the sick he was very particular when it comes to the lepers, “Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers” (Mt.18:8), maybe because a leper was a disfigured victim. He must go with rent clothes, bared head, a covering upon his upper lip and he must live outside the city. As he went he must give a warning with the cry, “Unclean, unclean” so that no one would have to come near to him. If someone mistakenly came near to him because he failed to warn him, the leper could be stoned to death. The leper was a man who was considered dead, though still alive.

Surprisingly, Jesus did not only welcome the man, he actually reached out and touched him. It was not an easy thing to do at that time, since leprosy was contagious; and sickness was always associated with sin. Therefore anyone who touched a leper will himself become unclean and sinful, thus being endangered of becoming socially outcast too. But Jesus had no fear because he believes charity is higher than any law.

Since lepers were considered ‘unclean’, people believed that they were also unfit for public worship; thus they could not worship their God in the temple. This made it more painful. Jesus saw this and that’s why he did not only cure the leper, but even gave the instruction: “go to the priest and show yourself.”  By presenting himself to priests, he can get his certificate of clearance, go back to his community, feel the loving embrace of his family and regain his identity as a member of the chosen people of God. Christ restored his relationship with God once again.

Unity in Diversity. Our behavior should always be geared toward creating unity in the community of faith; never should our behavior drive people away.  Christians are supposed to be healers, and agents of unity. They are those who seek to reunite those who have been driven out because they are “different”.

Jesus “touched” the leper. He touched him not only physically but also emotionally and spiritually. He showed him his loving and understanding heart. He was not so much concerned in breaking the law; he was more concerned with the “broken man.” The leper found in Jesus a welcoming friend in his most depressing situation. And that became the most “touching” moment in his life. In our life today there are many people who are physically and emotionally sick and no one comes to embrace them. Some people even find themselves alone even in the midst of a crowd.  We never know perhaps, that our simple smile, or a few moments of talking with them, we can “touch” their lives and make them “cured” from within.

Prayer is all that matters. When the leper begged him and said “If you wish, you can make me clean”, he was in fact saying a beautiful prayer of petition. He was asking Jesus to cure him. And it was a very unselfish and unconditional expression of his need. Even though he really needed it so badly, he still left the final decision to God.