The essence of Jesus' mission was to restore humanity in the glory of God, His Father. True to His identity, He felt compassion for the outcast leper, stretching out His hand and touching him. Such physical proximity with the "unclean" would have upset the norms of His society. And it is ironic that He who had given a new lease of life and freedom of movement to the leper, re-instating him within his community, now could no longer walk openly into any public place but had to "stay outside" in places where nobody lived. In His incarnation, the Son of God experienced alienation while being compassionate to everyone at all times. But such was the attractive power of His compassion that the crowds were drawn to wherever He was.

Our mission, like that of St Paul is to mirror Christ. In trying to live this, we place the advantage of others above that of our own. Our concerns are always secondary. So we ask ourselves some pertinent questions: Whom do I choose to associate with in this morning's Eucharist? Am I comfortable sitting with just about anyone at all in the crowd? Do I pick and choose with whom I am going to sit, reserving places among friends etc? If ethnic and social barriers are to be overruled, isn't it time to start with my own attitude?