Thursday of week 1 in Ordinary Time
Gospel: Mark 1:40-45
In the encounter with the leper, the Gospel offers a tender and powerful portrait of God’s love made visible. Jesus does not heal from a distance; He is moved with compassion, stretches out His hand, and touches the one whom society has pushed away. Each gesture speaks volumes: His compassion sees suffering without fear, His outstretched hand bridges isolation, His touch restores dignity, and His words reveal a deep desire to heal, “Of course I want to.” This is not reluctant mercy but eager love. In this moment, we discover how God relates to each of us: He is never indifferent to our wounds, never repelled by our brokenness. Jesus approaches us where we are, touches what we might hide, and reveals a love that longs to make us whole. Let’s reflect: Do I truly believe that Jesus desires to touch and heal me personally, meeting my brokenness with compassion rather than distance or judgment?
Don Giorgio