13 January 2022

Thursday of the First Week in Ordinary Time

In the ancient world, lepers are outcasts from society, separated from others in order to protect against possible contamination and infection. They are cut off from family and community, forced to live apart and to avoid contact with those who do not have the disease. Today’s Gospel (Mk 1:40-45) highlights one such outcast who approaches Jesus looking for healing. Mark poignantly describes Jesus’ response: “Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand, touched the leper, and said, ‘I do will it. Be made clean.’” Here God’s compassion is visible in human form, as Jesus reaches out and touches the leper who has been cast out from society. 

The divine compassion made incarnate in Jesus is ample food for contemplation. But this scene also invites a response on our behalf. Just as Jesus reaches out and touches the leper, we too are called to demonstrate God’s compassion. Who are those outcasts or “lepers” that we encounter regularly? And how might we—even in a simple way—reach out to them after Jesus’ example?