The Lord God, in the book of Leviticus, instructs Moses and Aaron that anyone who is suspected of leprosy must go and show himself to the priest. Then the man, if diagnosed of skin leprosy, becomes unclean and must henceforth live outside the camp.

In the gospel of Mark, a leper came to Jesus and pleaded on his knees: ‘If you want to’ he said ‘you can cure me’. By this gesture, Jesus is depicted, not just as any other priest of old but the ideal high priest who identifies completely with the human suffering. The priests in Leviticus would pronounce the leper unclean and ensure that he is excluded from the community in order to not infect others. Jesus does not contradict the work of the priests according to the requirements of the law but fulfils such laws by taking it further. What has Jesus done differently or better in this situation?

1. He felt pity for this man. Without pity, compassion and mercy there is no charity and love. Without charity and love, the law serves itself and not the human person.
2. Jesus stretched out his hand. Stretching out means reaching out. We could have a hand as powerful as to save others but may lack the goodwill to stretch it. Jesus invites us to stretch out our hands and reach out to those in need. Such is the saving hand of God which can work through us, in us and with us for our salvation and that of others.
3. He touched the leper. Touching the leper has a high risk of being infected. But Jesus touched him, anyway. Don’t we take precautions when faced with infectious diseases, even in situations when we need no fear? We do fear and take precautions, anyway. This may remind us about Jesus’ saying that he who preserves his life will lose it and he who loses his life for my sake will find it. Of course, this should be understood in the right context of faith and reason. Also, a sense of touch is so powerful in healing. It may be the only thing the sick need – just a touch from someone who really loves and cares.
4. Jesus declares healing to the leper – ‘Be cured!’
5. Jesus sends him back to the community through the priest in fulfillment of the prescripts of the law. This is why Jesus has come; to ensure that those who have been excluded or those who have excluded themselves from the community even for the reasons of sin or offences may be reconciled and reunited back.

Jesus’ compassion and mercy; his gesture of acceptance; his human and spiritual touch; his declaration of healing and freedom to the sick and oppressed reminds us of those healing words of absolution spoken by the priest at the Sacrament of Reconciliation:

‘God the Father of mercies, through the death and resurrection of his Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, has reconciled the world to himself and sent the Holy Spirit among us for the forgiveness of sins; through the ministry of the Church, may God grant you pardon and peace; and I absolve you from your sins – in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.’