In this Gospel passage, Jesus cures a leper who begged him to make him clean. Why clean? Leprosy was considered a very contagious disease; thus a leper had to live outside the town. Besides, they believed that leprosy was an affliction from God and the Jews considered lepers as unclean. Can you imagine how lepers lived isolated lives? It was a very unhappy and depressive life as they were separated from family, friends and all the villagers.

So, this leper, when he was made clean by Jesus, did not follow his command of not telling anyone. Instead he went around proclaiming the news everywhere, that he was made clean. His heart could not contain the joy of being freed from his suffering. He went on sharing what Jesus had done for him.

There are many lepers around us today, not necessarily physically sick with leprosy, but because of their situation in life, are isolated and made outcasts of society. The poor, the sick especially of HIV, the elderly, the uneducated, prisoners, etc. are just a few examples of those who are considered “lepers” and “untouchables” by people who look at themselves as clean.

Do we reach out to them so that in their suffering they will feel comforted, accepted and loved? How can we alleviate the sufferings and difficulties of these marginalized people around us?

The leper in the Gospel reading received a gratuitous gift of healing that made him proclaim God’s goodness to him.. We, too, have received many gifts which have changed our lives. Have we ever thought of sharing them joyfully with others? Have we thanked the Giver of these gifts?