A leper came to Jesus and kneeling down begged him and said,
“If you wish, you can make me clean.” Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand, touched him, 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. 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.
This is very similar to Friday’s reading. Taken literally, it is another example of Christ proving he is the Messiah by intervening in human matters with miracles of healing. And like Friday’s reading, he uses his power to transform the lives of the most underprivileged. Why then does Christ say: “ See that you tell no one anything”. And still, the healed man could not keep his mouth shut. The consequence is that Jesus has no anonymity and probably no peace. He is constantly surrounded by people who want something from him. I wonder if it is this collection of stories that has created a healing approach to the gospel. God/Jesus will heal me. I want something from him so I believe. It seems a very ego-driven approach to worship. Perhaps a better approach is to give to others out of gratitude for the gifts already bestowed upon us from God.
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