When Jesus had come down from the mountain, great crowds followed him; and there was a leper who came to him and knelt before him, saying, 'Lord if you choose, you can make me clean.' He stretched out his hand and touched him saying, 'I do choose. Be made clean.' (Matthew 8: 1-3)
In the purity system of Jesus' day, lepers were outcasts, who had to live away from others. If they came into view of non-lepers, they had to shout "unclean" so as to not pollute other people. This was part of the religious system that sought to keep others pure and holy in relationship to God. If you were to touch a leper, you would be ritually unclean and unable to attend worship in the temple, etc.
I imagine having to stay away from others and also warn others to stay away from you must have been psychological torture. For this leper to still have the self-worth to approach Jesus is miraculous in my estimation. To value himself, even though his entire society shuns him, is remarkable to me.
Jesus receives this man's request and says amazing words, words that this man was not used to hearing, if he ever heard them at all.
"I do choose [you]. Be made clean." I imagine that hearing these words from Jesus were as life-giving and healing as the actual cleansing. Jesus should not have chosen him, based on cultural and religious teaching. Yet, he does so out of compassion. And this act of love changes this man's life.
Jesus chooses you too. Jesus chooses us even though we are marginalized by sin and brokenness and doubt and shame. And if Jesus chooses us then we can dare to choose each other and offer the same healing hope through our own mercy and support.
Healing Lord, help us to find strength to value ourselves and value others. Amen.
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