MOVED WITH COMPASSION
No Jewish rabbi at the time of Jesus would have permitted a leper to come near him for fear of defilement. Jesus is also a rabbi, but his approach is different. When a leper approaches Jesus, he behaves differently. Moved with compassion Jesus stretches out his hand and heals him. Jesus is not worried about contamination or ritual defilement. For him the leper as a person is important. Jesus raises the leper from the wretched situation and gives him dignity and he acknowledges it and freely makes Jesus known. Here lies a challenge also for us: to uphold human dignity. The First Reading also deals with the sad plight of a leper. The leprous person has been forced to wear torn clothes and cover his upper lips and cry, “Unclean, unclean.” In the Second Reading Paul after having taught the Corinthians that they must give glory to God in all they do, presents himself as a model for imitation.
Liturgical materials for the Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time.
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