Today's gospel passage (Mk 1:40-45) is a story of great courage and of the welcoming and loving heart of our God. A leper came to Jesus and knelt before him (Mk 1:40). This would have been an act of great courage on the part of the leper. Notice that Mark does not give us the name of the leper. Lepers were considered to be unclean, less than worthy of attention. For this person to place himself before Jesus was to place himself under the watchful eyes of all those who were gathered around Jesus ... and they would have been watching with very judgemental presumptions.
Regardless of what others thought, the leper came to Jesus and made a declaration of faith: If you wish, you can make me clean. What about us? Have we known times when we have had questions we would have loved to ask ... either of God or of someone else, but questions which we are too afraid to ask? Have we ever been so concerned about what others might think that we choose silence rather than to speak our own truth?
Jesus was moved with pity (Mk 1:41) for the condition of the leper and responded immediately by stretching out his hand, touching the leper and saying to him: 'I do will it, be made clean'.
If only we could muster the courage to come to the Lord, to kneel before him and to ask for what we truly desire, he would always welcome us with the same warmth and open heart. He will always respond to us in the same way as he spoke with the leper that day: I do will it ... Jesus wants us to come to him. He wants us to enjoy a trusting and loving relationship with him. He wants us to ask our questions and he is always willing to give us that which will be good for us, that which will lead us to places and situations where he can use us to touch the hearts of those who are in need.
Have a great day.
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