THURSDAY OF THE FIRST WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME, JANUARY 15, 2026
- Olivia M. Bannan
- 4 days ago
- 2 min read
Gospel
A leper came to him and kneeling down begged him and said, “If you wish, you can make me clean.” Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand, touched the leper, and said to him, “I do will it. Be made clean.” The leprosy left him immediately, and he was made clean. Then, warning him sternly, he dismissed him at once. Then he said to him, “See that you tell no one anything, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses prescribed; that will be proof for them.” The man went away and began to publicize the whole matter. He spread the report abroad so that it was impossible for Jesus to enter a town openly. He remained outside in deserted places, and people kept coming to him from everywhere.
REFLECTION
he stretched out his hand, touched the leper
The leper did not demand healing. The law said to isolate yourself and keep a distance. In fact lepers wore bells warning people that they were nearby. They were highly contagious.
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In full faith, but also in humility, the leper makes a bold and true statement, "If you choose, you can make me clean". Jesus' response is so much human but also divine. Extending His hand and therefore, crossing that most feared boundary, He chose closeness over caution. He chose love over fear, over revulsion.
How do we deal with suffering and exclusion? Are we willing to observe, pray and help from a safe distance? Or do we give our all to the good cause?
Lesson from the leper and from Jesus.
Trust in God's will even when we do not know the outcome.
God is powerful, merciful and wants to be with us. He draws near, He stretches out His hand and touches us, our families, our problems, our eyes, our minds.
Reach out with compassion, not out of duty, to those who are in need of love.
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