Walk along happily with Jesus and his four new fishermen disciples. A man covered with repulsive sores begs for healing. The custom was to exclude lepers from normal society.

????No Jew would defile himself by touching a leper, but goodness flows out of Jesus and he cures him. Jesus responds positively to the pleading of the man for healing.

????Jesus did things his own way. He was concerned with more than bodily healing. He was bothered most by the helplessness and humiliation of those rejected by society. He did not give them a hand-out but much more: a new relationship with their God, which helped them live with new dignity.

????Here “leprosy” may refer to a less severe form of skin disease. Let us reach out with compassionate care, with love, with a touch, to those who have been rejected and mistreated in family life, work, friendship or in community.

????Lord help us bring the love and commitments of our lives to prayer. Deepen our convictions and commitments to God and others that we help them live with dignity. God bless!