Christ cleansing a leper by Jean-Marie Melchior Doze, 1864

Do you remember what it’s like to shake someone’s hand or even give a high-five? Do you remember what it’s like to hug and kiss those you love? We all feel that pain of not being touched.

In our first reading this Sunday, Feb. 14, we hear that the person with leprosy “shall dwell apart, making his abode outside the camp.” In other words, he is supposed to keep his distance — his social distance — and essentially quarantine himself from the rest of society while he has this disease. In addition to the loss of sensation — one symptom of leprosy — the person with leprosy may experience the loss of touch, of being touched, for others’ fear of contracting the disease. In a very deep sense of the word, the man or woman with leprosy became a beggar, one in need and crying out. Begging for what? Crying out for what?

Although the person with leprosy can gradually lose the ability to feel physical pain, he or she still feels the deep pain of isolation, of being separated from others. Perhaps the person had few visitors and visited no one, wasn’t able to see family or friends who didn’t have the disease, and wasn’t able to participate in public worship of God. Sound familiar?

In today’s Gospel, a man with leprosy approaches Jesus, kneels and begs him, “If you wish, you can make me clean.” Our current circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic allow us a window into the drama of that moment. Throughout the country and world, both those with COVID-19 and those without can feel isolated and alone. Where are we to turn in those moments? Who can we cry out to when we feel alone?

Let’s look again at what the man with leprosy does to give us some insight into a path forward in answering those questions. The man overcomes his isolation by taking a risk and approaching Jesus just as he was, with all his sores, imperfections and blemishes, and with faith, he begs Jesus to satisfy his deep desire: “If you wish, you can make me clean.” What had he heard or seen up to this point that gave him such confidence in Jesus? We don’t know, but something in his heart said, “Jesus will receive me; Jesus can make me clean,” and so he ventured out in faith. How did Jesus respond to such a request?

Jesus isn’t frightened or disgusted by this man or his disease. He isn’t put off or angry that he approaches him. He is “moved with pity.” He sees much deeper than the surface. He loves him all the way to the depths, far deeper than skin. Amazingly, Jesus touches him! Was this the first time this man has been touched with love by another person since contracting leprosy and living outside the camp?

We are not only grateful to Jesus for how he responds, but grateful for this man who shows us that we can approach Jesus just as we are and speak to him about our heart’s deep needs. Sometimes we can think and feel that we must be perfect to approach Jesus, or that we are not good enough to pray. But the good news of the Gospel is on display in this encounter. Jesus is Immanuel, “God-with-us.” Jesus is God in the flesh, God who can touch us. We can approach him as we are and ask him for what we need. He loves us and we are never alone.

Father Wittnebel is parochial vicar of St. Ambrose in Woodbury.

Sunday, Feb. 14
Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time