Daily Word - His Compassion - Luke 5:12-16

Scripture:
Luke 5:12-16 (English Standard Version)
Jesus Cleanses a Leper
12While he was in one of the cities,(A) there came a man full of leprosy.[a] And when he saw Jesus, he(B) fell on his face and begged him, "Lord,(C) if you will, you can make me clean." 13And Jesus[b] stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, "I will; be clean." And immediately the leprosy left him. 14And he charged him(D) to tell no one, but "go and show(E) yourself to the priest, and(F) make an offering for your cleansing, as Moses commanded,(G) for a proof to them." 15(H) But now even more the report about him went abroad, and great crowds gathered to hear him and to be healed of their infirmities. 16But(I) he would withdraw to desolate places and pray.
Footnotes:
Luke 5:12 Leprosy was a term for several skin diseases; see Leviticus 13
Luke 5:13 Greek he
Cross references:
Luke 5:12 : For Luke 5:12-14, Matt 8:2-4; Mark 1:40-44
Luke 5:12 : Luke 17:16
Luke 5:12 : Matt 9:28; Mark 9:22, 23
Luke 5:14 : Matt 9:30; 17:9; Mark 1:34; 5:43; 7:36; 8:26; Matt 12:16
Luke 5:14 : Luke 17:14
Luke 5:14 : Lev 14:2-32
Luke 5:14 : Luke 9:5; Mark 6:11; James 5:3
Luke 5:15 : Mark 1:45
Luke 5:16 : Mark 1:35; Matt 14:23

Reflection:
What can keep us from God's love and his power to heal and cleanse us from sickness of body, mind, and spirit? The Jewish law forbade anyone from touching or approaching a leper, lest ritual defilement occur. The leper who met Jesus did something quite remarkable. He approached Jesus confidently and humbly, expecting that Jesus could and would heal him. Normally a leper would be stoned or at least warded off if he tried to come near a rabbi. Jesus not only grants the man his request, but he demonstrates the personal love, compassion, and tenderness of God in his physical touch. The medical knowledge of his day would have regarded such contact as grave risk for incurring infection. Jesus met the man's misery with compassion and tender kindness. He communicated the love and mercy of God in a sign that spoke more eloquently than words. He touched the man and made him clean – not only physically but spiritually as well.
Some eleven centuries later, another man, named Francis, met a leper on the road as he journeyed towards Assisi. "Though the leper caused him no small disgust and horror, he nonetheless, got off the horse and prepared to kiss the leper. But when the leper put out his hand as though to receive something, he received money along with a kiss" (from the Life of St. Francis by Thomas of Celano). Francis did what seemed humanly impossible because he was filled with the love and compassion of Christ. The Holy Spirit inflames our hearts with the love of Christ that we may reach out to others with compassionate care, especially to those who have been rejected and mistreated. The love of God impels us to do as Jesus did – to love the unlovable, to touch the untouchable, and to forgive the unforgiveable. Do you allow the Holy Spirit to fill your heart with the love and compassion of Christ for others?

Prayer For The Day:
May the power of your love, Lord Christ, fiery and sweet as honey, so absorb our hearts as to withdraw them from all that is under heaven. Grant that we may be ready to die for love of your love, as you died for love of our love." (Prayer of Francis of Assisi, 13th century)