Certain individuals or groups of persons are secluded themselves or by the community itself. It might be because their way of life does not match that of the majority. The first reading of the day presents the ostracization attitude of Israelites concerning the lepers. The person who was affected by leprosy had to tear his or her clothes. They were restricted to living in isolation without contacting anyone. The leper had to shout aloud that he was an unclean person and should not appear in public. There is no doubt that it was a severe and hard restriction. This attitude of social ostracization was more intense than the severe pain caused by leprosy.
However, we see Jesus was not ready to aloof anyone who approached him. Whether they were public sinners or impure due to their sickness, he considered them and attended to their needs. The so-called public sinners, like the tax collectors and the prostitutes, experienced a kind of social ostracization from society. In fact, Jesus was known as a friend of the tax collectors and the prostitutes. They were part of his table fellowship. He came to find these lost sheep and bring them back to his Father’s house. The religious leaders of Jesus’ time, the Pharisees, scribes, and Sadducees, constantly reminded Jesus that tax collectors and prostitutes were sinners and not meant to be in company with them. As an answer to them, Jesus says, “I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.” (Lk. 5:32)

We see Jesus encountering a leper patient in the gospel passage of the day. He came to Jesus and pleaded for his mercy: “If you are willing, you can make me clean.” (Mk. 1:40) We can sense from his words that more than the sickness, the guilt feeling of being unclean ruled and tormented his mind. Anyhow, he had absolute trust in Jesus that he could restore him to a normal life. Jesus was the one and only hope for him. Jesus never fails him. He tells him, “I am willing. Be made clean!” (Lk. 1:42) God’s mercy and love are far greater than any of the social restrictions imposed by human society. Once he experienced the healing of Jesus, there was no limit to his happiness and gratitude. He is not only healed of his physical ailment but also of the psychological burden that made him unclean. We see this healed man reaching out to his people to proclaim Jesus and the greatest marvel of healing that Jesus granted him.

As we reflect on this gospel passage, may this experience of the healed leper help us to grow in our faith journey. Let us also imbibe the mindset of Jesus that we may not keep anyone aloof but accept everyone in Christ. Let us surrender all our physical and psychological ailments to Jesus. The same Jesus who healed lepers can intervene in our lives when we surrender ourselves completely to him. When we receive his blessings, like the leper, let us proclaim the great wonder Jesus performed in our lives without fail.