Matthew 8: 1-4 relates the seemingly simple story of a leper who approaches Jesus and asks for a cure. Jesus consents, and at once the leper is healed.
Lepers: The Ancient World's Untouchables
In today's super-sanitized Western society, it is easy to underestimate the enormity of what happened in this little scene that played out in Palestine, over two thousand years ago. According to the World Health Organization, leprosy, a disease with horribly disfiguring effects, was believed in ancient times to be highly contagious.
As a consequence of the effects of leprosy, lepers were required by law to remove themselves from society, to live in colonies and to cry out or ring bells in warning when approached. As reported by the BBC, even today, in some parts of the world, lepers are still considered untouchable and as such, they live in permanent quarantine.
The Leper is CuredIt is within this context that the action of the leper in today’s Gospel becomes amazing. He had the temerity, which some people call faith, to approach Jesus, to kneel before him and ask of him the greatest favour he could think of: “Lord, if you want to, you can make me well again.”
And even more amazingly, Jesus “stretched out his hand and touched him.” Jesus touched the untouchable. He touched him as if it were the normal and natural thing to do. “Of course I want to, be made well.”
The final, astounding outcome is related almost matter-of-factly: "And immediately his leprosy was cleansed."
The Need to Ask With Faith
The miraculous healing of the leper symbolizes a more important healing that takes place each time a penitent approaches Jesus in the sacrament of Reconciliation. Jesus wants to touch the penitent person, to make him or her well and whole again, to give peace, healing, and health. In the case of the leper, Jesus knew what the leper wanted, even before the sick man said a word.
Even to the ordinary observer, it must have been obvious what the leper was going to ask for. But – and this is key – Jesus waited for the leper to ask. And like the leper, the penitent must ask with humility, courage, and above all the firm belief that if he just asks, Jesus can and will cure him of anything.
Self-examination for Self-defeating Attitudes
There are some people who honestly believe that they are beyond hope for a cure. This is a self-defeating, self-destructive attitude that needs to be resisted.
The Bible tells readers that considering oneself to be beyond help is a form of spiritual pride. A person who thinks this way is, in effect, putting himself beyond the power of God who in reality can cure anything, as long as the person cooperates freely.
Here are some good questions to ask for self-examination in this area:
- "Do I think I am beyond hope?"
- "Do I ask for help when I need it? Do I know whom to go to for help?"
- "Do I treat anyone as if he or she were a leper, untouchable, incurable, unworthy of my attention?"
The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches that the sacrament of Reconciliation is the normal way for Catholics to seek forgiveness for the sins they have committed, which cause a kind of spiritual leprosy. Reflecting on the story of the leper in the gospel can help the penitent receive this sacrament with more faith, so that an effective healing can take place in the soul.
