Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. Simon and his companions went to look for him, and when they found him, they exclaimed: “Everyone is looking for you!”
Jesus replied, “Let us go somewhere else—to the nearby
villages—so I can preach there also. That is why I have come.” So he traveled
throughout Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons.
A man with leprosy came to him and begged him on his knees,
“If you are willing, you can make me clean.”
Jesus was indignant. He reached out his hand and touched the
man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” Immediately the leprosy left him and
he was cleansed.
Jesus sent him away at once with a strong warning: “See that
you don’t tell this to anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer
the sacrifices that Moses commanded for your cleansing, as a testimony to
them.” Instead he went out and began to talk freely, spreading the news. As a
result, Jesus could no longer enter a town openly but stayed outside in lonely
places. Yet the people still came to him from everywhere.
The people kept looking for Jesus, but as a wise king, he
went to be by himself and pray, keeping himself close to God the Father, asking
for his support.
I have always been touched by this story with the man with
leprosy. No one wanted to touch this unclean man, but he asked Jesus to touch
him, if he was willing. And, Jesus was willing. I praise God that he is always
willing to touch the unclean. He touched even me.
Jesus had reason for asking the man to keep quiet about what
happened at that time, but I want to be more like him, sharing with unstopping
enthusiasm what Jesus has done for me.
Father, thank you that you love the unclean, that you are willing to touch us and make us clean.
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