In today’s Gospel, a man afflicted with leprosy approaches Jesus, falling to his knees, and implores, “If you are willing, you can make me clean.” Filled with compassion, Jesus reaches out and touches the man, declaring, “I am willing; be clean!” Immediately, the leprosy departs, and the man is cured.
Jesus’ response to the leper reveals His deep compassion. Despite the man’s repulsiveness and untouchable status, Jesus tenderly touches him. This physical healing mirrors our spiritual condition before God. Just as the leper was desperate and outcast, we too were spiritually destitute and separated from God due to sin.
His healings serve as living parables. They depict our true state apart from Christ. Lepers were not only physically afflicted but also socially, economically, and spiritually marginalized. Similarly, unredeemed sinners stand condemned before God, as described in Romans 3: “There is no one righteous, not even one…”
Just as Jesus cleansed the leper, He offers spiritual cleansing to us. Our sin-stained hearts can be made clean through faith in Him. Jesus’ touch symbolizes His willingness to save and restore us. We, too, must humbly approach Him, acknowledging our need for cleansing.
As we reflect on this passage, let us recognise our own spiritual leprosy—the sin that separates us from God. May we turn to Jesus, who willingly heals and restores. Let His compassion move us to seek forgiveness and transformation.
GOSPEL
The Lord be with you
And with your spirit.
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark (1: 40-45 )
Glory to you, O Lord
A leper came to Jesus and pleaded on his knees: ‘If you want to’ he said ‘you can cure me.’
Feeling sorry for him, Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him.
‘Of course I want to!’ he said. ‘Be cured!’
And the leprosy left him at once and he was cured. Jesus immediately sent him away and sternly ordered him, ‘Mind you say nothing to anyone, but go and show yourself to the priest, and make the offering for your healing prescribed by Moses as evidence of your recovery.‘
The man went away, but then started talking about it freely and telling the story everywhere, so that Jesus could no longer go openly into any town, but had to stay outside in places where nobody lived. Even so, people from all around would come to him.
The Gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.