Two words in this Gospel are almost terrifying. Jesus “touched him.”
So far removed are we from what leprosy signified in biblical times, that this image of Jesus stretching out his hand to touch a person whose body was consumed by the disease has no affect on us.
Lepers were the walking dead who were banished to live outside towns in caves, tents, or garbage dumps. Even breathing the same air as a leper was thought to be dangerous, since leprosy was considered highly contagious. Leprosy consumed a person’s body, leaving stumps where fingers, hands, feet, or noses had once been. The laws dictated that lepers were to maintain twelve steps distance from others, cover their mouths with a cloth, and cry out “unclean, unclean” to announce their presence.
Most of us still have lingering in our memories the fear we experienced with COVID-19, when even being within six feet of another or breathing the same air as they, conjured up the possibility of a painful death. We learned to stay from others to protect ourselves and those we love.
Jesus, instead, “touched” the leper.
Jesus stepped over the imaginary line of demarcation, entering into the dangerous zone of closeness with the leper.
Jesus got close enough to this man to smell the putrid smell of his decaying flesh. He could feel the man’s foul breath on his face.
Jesus got closer still in order to touch the body of the leper, putting his fingers into the wounds of oozing sores.
Jesus conveyed to this man that he wanted so much that he would be healed that he himself was willing to risk his life, to give his life.
Jesus was close enough to look directly into the face of a person whose face was horrifically disfigured and perhaps even unrecognizable.
And Jesus touched him.
Sometimes we may feel that we have become disfigured, unrecognizable, because of the wounds we have received in our life and the brokenness of our own sin.
And Jesus touches us.
There are certain others in our life that we consider “lepers” in the sense that they think, speak, or act in ways that threaten us or that walk outside the path of discipleship of the Lord Jesus.
And Jesus touches them.
There is no leprosy that frightens Jesus away, no disfigurement that makes him draw back. One day, when thinking of certain others in my life, wondering how they could be at peace with what they were doing, I heard God say to me this: “I know. Only I know.”
Jesus touches each of us in the places of our leprosy. We are each of us known intimately and lovingly by a God unafraid to enter into our misery and travel with us the journey to the Kingdom.
Today you might ask yourself in a moment of prayer: “Jesus, what does this say about you and about me?”
Praying with this Passage of Scripture
Lectio Divina is a way of listening to God as he speaks in his Word. It is a practice of communicating with God through Scripture and attending to God’s presence and what he wishes to tell us. In this slow and prayerful reading of the Word of God, we allow ourselves to be transformed by the Spirit who forms us into the image of Christ. There are four movements in Lectio Divina: Read (lectio), Meditate (meditation), Pray (oratio), Contemplate (contemplation).
Begin by finding a still space to pray. Breathe deeply and become quieter within. Abandon any agenda, worries or thoughts you bring to this prayer and entrust these things to the merciful care of God. Ask for the grace to be receptive to what God will speak to you through this Scripture reading. Grant me, Jesus Divine Master, to be able to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God and your unfathomable riches. Grant that your word penetrate my soul; guide my steps, and brighten my way till the day dawns and darkness dissipates, you who live and reign forever and ever Ame
Read (lectio)
Begin by slowly and meditatively reading your Scripture passage out loud. Listen for a particular word or phrase that speaks to you at this moment and sit with it for a time.
A leper came to Jesus and kneeling down begged him and said,
“If you wish, you can make me clean.”
Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand,
touched him, and said to him,
“I do will it. Be made clean.”
The leprosy left him immediately, and he was made clean.
Then, warning him sternly, he dismissed him at once.
He said to him, “See that you tell no one anything,
but go, show yourself to the priest
and offer for your cleansing what Moses prescribed;
that will be proof for them.”
The man went away and began to publicize the whole matter.
He spread the report abroad
so that it was impossible for Jesus to enter a town openly.
He remained outside in deserted places,
and people kept coming to him from everywhere.
(Mark 1:40-45)
Meditate (meditatio)
Read the same passage a second time. As you re-engage the text, let the word or phrase that stood out become your invitation to speak from your heart with God who wishes to share his heart with you. Allow this word or phrase to wash over you and permeate your thoughts and feelings. You may wish to repeat this phrase quietly and gently for a period of time
Pray (oratio)
Read the text a third time. Listen for what God is saying to you. Speak heart to heart with God. Notice the feelings that this conversation with God raises up within you. Share with God what you notice about your response to this conversation. You may wish to return to repeating the phrase quietly and gently, allowing it to permeate you more and more deeply.
Contemplate (contemplatio)
Read the text a final time. Now be still and rest in God’s embrace. Ask God to give you a gift to take with you from this prayer. You might ask God if he is inviting you to do some action, for instance, make some change in your thoughts, attitudes or reactions, in the way you speak or how you treat others. Thank God for this gift and invitation as you conclude your prayer.
Image: Dzambel at Cathopic
Touching the Sunrise 