When I encounter a reading with a leper, I always find myself thinking about what it meant to be a leper in biblical times. The thorough physical, spiritual, and emotional isolation would surely be too much for me. While I can understand the practicality behind this (preventing the spread of disease) I also wonder where people’s compassion was. In this reading, the leper breaks societal rules by going near other people in order to see Jesus. After healing him, Jesus encourages him to show himself to the priest, which would help make his return to society official.

What pulls at my heartstrings here, is who do I consider a leper today? Is there anyone I would not want to be near, or be seen with? What about society? It should be our desire as Christians to minister to the lepers in our community. We are God’s hands in the world… My own thoughts set me on fire a bit there, but what is the reality? Even as I strive to act this way in my career, sometimes people frighten me. It can be hard to care for those with violent or erratic tendencies, and yet, aren’t they the very “lepers” I should be helping? I pray that God’s love gives me strength to care for those that present a difficult situation, and that his kindness always shines through me to those in need.

After being healed, the man disobeys Jesus’s direct order, and tells everyone he can about what he was given. This, too, should be our goal. We should strive to do good, and yet tell no one. The reasons for our good deeds should be the gifts themselves, not the accolades we could receive. If any reward comes our way, I hope it is because those we helped felt so blessed that they had to tell the whole world.

The lessons I learned from this reading are simple: do good quietly, and treat all you encounter with love and dignity.