Reading: Luke 5:12-16

And it came to pass, when he was in a certain city, behold a man full of leprosy: who seeing Jesus fell on his face, and besought him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. And he put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will: be thou clean. And immediately the leprosy departed from him. And he charged him to tell no man: but go, and shew thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing, according as Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them. But so much the more went there a fame abroad of him: and great multitudes came together to hear, and to be healed by him of their infirmities. And he withdrew himself into the wilderness, and prayed.

Luke tells us in this passage how a leper comes to the Lord and is healed. It is evidently a miracle of the Lord that reaffirms his power over the impossible, his divine nature. But there are a couple of interesting aspects to look at….
The leper: rejected by all society, suffering, unable even to relate to his family… How much desperation was there in him, how much pain, to take the risk of approaching Jesus, exposing himself to rejection and violence? How much faith to prostrate himself and pray at the Lord’s feet affirming that the Lord’s will could transform his life?
Jesus: How much love is there in Him to approach and embrace the uncleanness of leprosy, that which no one would touch or embrace years ago? How much compassion and mercy in a few simple words: “I will, be clean”? Who is this who has the power to transform a life in such a way, and not only that, but desires to do so?

MEDITATE: Sometimes we are in a similar position to Jesus, facing the needy. Do we show His love and compassion? But are we really like the leper? Do we look with all our faith and hope to Jesus, the only one who can make us clean?