Jesus Cleans

Today’s Gospel Text:  While he was in one of the cities, there came a man full of leprosy; and when he saw Jesus, he fell on his face and besought him, "Lord, if you will, you can make me clean." 13 And he stretched out his hand, and touched him, saying, "I will; be clean." And immediately the leprosy left him. 14 And he charged him to tell no one; but "go and show yourself to the priest, and make an offering for your cleansing, as Moses commanded, for a proof to the people." 15 But so much the more the report went abroad concerning him; and great multitudes gathered to hear and to be healed of their infirmities. 16 But he withdrew to the wilderness and prayed. Luke 5:12-16

Reflection: Talk about house cleaning and it sends many, who have experienced what a cleaning process involves, into a tizzy.  

Many a times, in most circumstances, it involves a hard laborious process, involving meticulous and deft handling of the objects at hand.

There are always instruments and cleansing agents we use to clean things. In other words we cannot think of cleansing without these agents.

What is it that made the leprous feel that he needed to be cleansed? He could have asked the Lord to heal him or touch him and set his ailment right.  What is so unclean about the leprous situation? Is it not like any other disease? 

Could it be that the leper understood the deep inner reasons for leprosy and why he was suffering?

Never the less, we see from the words and action of Jesus that he did clean him by his mere touch and the word.

How can Jesus touch a leper when in those days every society would shun them lest they pass on the infection to them? The law clearly forbade them to be within the city walls and they had to remain outside the walls of the city.

From this miracle rooted in the cleansing power of Jesus' action, we are offered a hope which no one else can offer: He alone can cleanse us of the deep inner guilt and contamination of sin and anxiety and set us free.

But the right approach is very important for us in order to receive from his presence, whether we approach him directly or through the sacramental presence or through his disciples. 

We need to first be aware with God’s help the actual reason for our sickness and where it began and then after having diagnosed the problem approach the Lord with faith and confidence just like the leper of today’s Gospel.

Prayer:  Lord, reveal to me my leprous spots and cleanse me of every sin that stains my soul and heal me.

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