Lepers (including people with other skin diseases) were among the most piteous of people in scriptural times. Although little was known of the origin of the sickness, it was clearly known to be contagious and therefore greatly feared. The only solution was to isolate the victim and not allow him/her to approach people. So, apart from the appalling physical disintegration of body and limbs, there was the social ostracism, the contempt and the fear which the victim engendered.

The leper in the story indicates his great faith and trust in Jesus. "If you wish, you can make me clean," he says. Jesus is filled with a deep sense of compassion for the man's plight. And in doing so Jesus does the unthinkable - he reaches out to touch the leper. This must have been a healing act in itself. The leper was by definition untouchable. "I do will it." says Jesus, "Be made clean." The man is immediately healed. He is then told to go to the priests to make the customary offering of thanksgiving and be re-admitted to society. We may ask who are the lepers in our society today? One very obvious group are those who have contracted contagious diseases like HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases which are becoming ever more widespread. There are other marginal groups - nomadic groups like drug addicts, poor single mothers, the homeless, alcoholics. How ready am I to reach out to these 'lepers' in our midst?