Luke 5:12-16
The gospel in bits and pieces.
"It happened that there was a man full of leprosy in one of the towns where Jesus was;"
It could have been any town, and for that matter every town. How often is this our experience that we come across a person who is considered an outcast. It happens all the time, in every town and in any town where ever people gather there inevitably is a person who gets those stares and looks; a person who people will turn and walk the other way; a person who will cause parents to reach for their kids; a person who gets frowned upon.
It happens every day in every place
"when he saw Jesus, he fell prostrate, pleaded with him, and said ,"
He begged for help. How often it happens that we come across those who beg for help, for attention, for a hand out. How often we keep driving, we refuse to stop, we make remarks about how they are lazy and should get a job. How often do we encounter men and women groveling,reaching up ward because they can go no further down.
Then the dialogue
"Lord, if you wish, you can make me clean."
"Jesus stretched out his hand, touched him, and said, "I do will it. Be made clean."
How easy Jesus makes this look! How quick and prompt does he reply and respond to the need of the other.
No excuses. No remarks. No pity. Just compassion and true fellowship as his hand stretches forth to welcome, to console and to bless.
What is truly amazing is the law of Leviticus (chapter 14) that details the prescripts necessary for a leper to be made clean.
32 verses cover the necessary prescripts of purification. About 2000 words are used to describe in detail what a leper must do in order to be welcomed back into camp and once again be part of the community.
Click here to read Leviticus ch. 14
Yet, it took Jesus one simple gesture of stretching his hand and touching him and only 7 words, "I do will it. Be made clean" to accomplish the purification and welcome.
How easy it is for JEsus.
Yet how difficult it is for us. We make it very very hard. How often with a simple gesture and few words we too could restore the dignity of the human person, yet we insist on the 2000 words and the jumping of hoops before we risk the gesture, before we risk the touch.
We like to play it safe, hedge our bets, risk nothing.
Jesus doesn't play it safe, rather he invites others to experience the security of his embrace.
Perhaps we too should learn to keep it simple. Touch first, speak second, welcome always.
Keep it simple.
song to go along with the reading
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