The Healing of the Leper

“Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.” Jesus reached out his hand and touched him. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” (Matthew 8:2–3)

A few weeks ago, the new school year began. It took only a few days for many people to become ill because of one epidemic or another. We hope that these illnesses will be temporary and that, with the help of medication, people will soon recover from them. But there are other kinds of illnesses that do not last only a few days or weeks, but months or even years. And how heavy the cross of such illnesses can be! Not only because of the pain, but also because of the loss of hope. Will there ever be healing?
Jesus meets a person who knows this kind of suffering: a man with leprosy. He was socially excluded, a man who had been marked and rejected. Because of his illness, his whole life had changed. He could not live like other people. He could not touch others freely. He could not go wherever others could go. His illness seemed to say to him: “You no longer belong among us.” And perhaps one of the greatest sufferings was not even the physical pain itself, but the fact that he was left alone. When this man meets Jesus, he does not explain his illness. He does not tell Him how long he has been suffering. He does not complain. He simply says: “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.” He knows that Jesus is able to do this.
Jesus sees this man, hears his words, and answers him: “I am willing. This is a sentence that every sick person needs to hear. Jesus is not indifferent to your suffering either. He does not rejoice that you are ill. He does not turn away from you. He reaches out His hand to you as well. I pray that He may bring healing to everyone who reads these lines. Amen.

PRAYER: Dear Jesus! I thank You with all my heart for this encouraging Word. I know that even today You accept and heal those who are sick, including those whom we may sometimes turn our backs on and leave alone. Be the blessed Physician of everyone who humbly asks You for healing! Amen.

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