First Reading: Lev 13:1-2, 44-46
We are in the sixth Sunday
of ordinary Time. Last Sunday we saw how Jesus’ healing touch moved Mother-in-law
of Simon Peter to enter into a service for others. Encounter with Christ is the
fundamental for all Christian philanthropy, altruism, charity and service. In today’s
Gospel the touch of Jesus brings harmony in the religious and social life of
the person. The leper approaches Jesus to get cleansed, to become pure and
clean (Mk 1:40). The intention of the leper is not just a healing from that
virulent disease but cleansing. The first reading taken from the book of Leviticus
gives a glimpse of the life of a leper in Israel. In those day, limited medical
resources pushed the lepers to be away from society. However, we cannot reduce
this contagious sickness to be mere bodily ailment. There was a spiritual attribution
to leprosy in Israel. The Lord declares that leprous man as unclean (Lev 13:44).
God who is source of all health and wellness, relates physical ailments to
spiritual deterioration! Thus, there is much more than a physical illness. The man
with leprosy suffers spiritual alienation too. To be away from village –
society – is to be away from partaking in common religious worship. Lepers are
not allowed to visit synagogues, attend prayer services, partake in temple
sacrifices and so forth. In this context, the suffering of a leper is much more
than physical; s/he is physically separated from the society, psychologically
alienated from human dignity and spiritually distanced from God. The life of a
leper is like life without any meaning.
The approach of leper to Jesus
is a daring one, as he violates the Old Testament law to be away from the
crowd. He instead of shouting “unclean, unclean” (Lev 13:45) asks for cleansing
(Mk 1:40). Jesus reaches out to Him through a touch. (Mk 1:41). This shows the
opening of new era with the coming of Jesus, the Old Testament law is replaced
by the loving touch of Jesus. The suffering humanity has gained a physician in
Jesus. He is the restorer of humanity both from physical and spiritual
ailments. The healing of Jesus effects harmony in the life of that leper. The healed
man is restored to the society and is now made worthy to enter the temple and
offer his sacrifice. Thus, reconciliation with people and God. In the Old
Testament too we witness the healing of leprosy of Miriam by Moses (Num 12) and
Naaman by Elisha (2 Ki 5:1-15), yet those healings were done without any human
touch. Contrarily, the healing in the New Testament are associated with touch.
Jesus performs most of the healing through touch. No wonder why James insists
on inviting the elders – now priests – to pray over the sick, anoint him/her
with the oil, meaning to say laying hands on the sick or touch the sick to
effect healing (Jas 5:14). The healing can be both physical wellness and spiritual
restoration (Jas 5:15). Touch gives comfort to a person. It gives strengthen to
a sufferers. Imagine a tight or warm hug given to a person at the time of great
loss or tragedy. Will that not make the person fell that we are with him/her? Will
that touch not bring order to his/her life in that moment of chaos? Yes, physical
touch restores person psychologically and physically. Whereas, the spiritual touch
– a touch by an anointed one or a charismatic person - gives spiritual healing.
We are called to give that touch no matter whether it effects physical or psychological
or spiritual.
Today, the beauty of touch has
lost its significance as the evil has entered into its space. The prevalent of
bad touch and sexual distortion prevents us from giving healing to a person
through a touch. Yes, it is a challenge today. Nevertheless, we need to restore
the beauty of touch with daring attitude. In the second reading, St. Paul
invites us to do whatever we do for the glory of God (1 Cor 10:31). When there
is a proper intention, then our touch becomes holy and healing oriented. As St.
Paul says that his works are not for his advantage but for the sake or the recipients
of his message (1 Cor 10:33), our intention and will in the touch should be focused
on giving healing to the sufferer. May we engage in the culture of reaching out
to the contagious with proper intentions. If we are contagious with sin, may we
imitate the daring attitude of the leper to approach Jesus with humility. May
God bless you all!
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