In the Gospel, a leper approaches Jesus. This man had every reason to be hopeless, yet he makes a humble Request : "If you wish, you ca...
In the Gospel, a leper approaches Jesus. This man had every reason to be hopeless, yet he makes a humble Request: "If you wish, you can make me clean." Compare this to the Israelites in the first reading. They treated the Ark of the Covenant like a magic charm, dragging it into battle thinking it would force God to give them victory. They lost disastrously. The Israelites demanded; the leper requested. True faith is surrendering to God's will ("If you wish"), not trying to manipulate God to do our bidding.
Jesus responds to this humility with a powerful Reach. "Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand and touched him." Jesus crossed the line of religious taboo. He touched the untouchable. This is the Gospel in a nutshell: God reaching down from heaven to touch our humanity, stained by sin. He is not a God who stays at a safe distance. He gets His hands dirty to pull us out of the mud. There is no person too far gone for the reach of Christ.
The result is total Restoration. The leprosy vanished. But notice Jesus sends him to the priests. He wants the man restored not just in body, but in community standing. He wants him to have his life back. God desires our wholeness. He wants to restore the years the locusts have eaten. Whether it is a restoration of health, relationship, or dignity, Jesus is the great Restorer.
Challenge: Are you treating God like a vending machine or a magic charm? Shift your prayer today to the leper’s prayer: "Lord, I trust Your heart. If You will it, help me."
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