Matthew 8:1-6: a reflection

1When he came down from the mountain, great multitudes followed him. 2Behold, a leper came to him and worshiped him, saying, “Lord, if you want to, you can make me clean.” 3Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, “I want to. Be made clean.” Immediately his leprosy was cleansed. 4Jesus said to him, “See that you tell nobody; but go, show yourself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.” 5When he came into Capernaum, a centurion came to him, asking him for help, 6saying, “Lord, my servant lies in the house paralyzed, grievously tormented.”

A leper, an outcast whom no one would touch, comes to Jesus and kneels before him, saying, Lord, if you want to, you can make me clean. He does not doubt Jesus' ability; he wonders about his willingness. And Jesus answers in a way that settles it: he stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, I want to. Be made clean. Jesus not only heals him, but touches him, the untouchable leper, and declares his willingness plainly: I am willing. Both the touch and the words show a Christ ready and willing to help the outcast.

Notice two things: Jesus' willingness, and his touch. The leper wondered whether Jesus would be willing to help one like him; and Jesus answered, I am willing, leaving no doubt. And Jesus did not heal him from a distance, as one might keep an unclean outcast at arm's length; he stretched out his hand and touched him, the very thing no one else would do. Christ was both willing to help and unafraid to touch the untouchable; he did not hold the outcast at a distance, but reached out and touched him, and made him clean.

That willingness and that touch are worth resting in, for we can doubt whether Christ is willing to help one like us, or whether we are too unclean for him to draw near. We can wonder, like the leper, not whether Christ can help us, but whether he is willing; and we can feel too unclean, too much an outcast, for him to touch. But Christ said, I am willing, and touched the untouchable leper. Do not doubt Christ's willingness to help you, or think yourself too unclean for him to draw near; he is willing, and he does not hold the outcast at arm's length, but reaches out and touches, and makes clean. Come to Christ with the leper's confidence in his power, and hear his answer to any doubt of his willingness: I am willing. The Christ who touched the untouchable leper and made him clean is willing to receive and cleanse you too, however unclean you feel, reaching out to touch and heal rather than holding you at a distance.

Lord Jesus, a leper, an outcast whom no one would touch, came to you and knelt, saying, Lord, if you want to, you can make me clean. He did not doubt your ability; he wondered about your willingness. And you answered in a way that settled it: you stretched out your hand and touched him, saying, I want to; be made clean. You not only healed him, but touched him, the untouchable leper, and declared your willingness plainly. Show me two things: your willingness, and your touch. The leper wondered whether you would be willing to help one like him; and you answered, I am willing, leaving no doubt. And you did not heal him from a distance; you stretched out your hand and touched him, the very thing no one else would do. You were both willing to help and unafraid to touch the untouchable. Let me rest in that willingness and that touch, for I can doubt whether you are willing to help one like me, or whether I am too unclean for you to draw near. I can wonder, like the leper, not whether you can help me, but whether you are willing; and I can feel too unclean for you to touch. But you said, I am willing, and touched the untouchable leper. Keep me from doubting your willingness to help me, or thinking myself too unclean for you to draw near; you are willing, and you do not hold the outcast at arm's length. Help me come to you with the leper's confidence, Lord, and hear your answer to any doubt of your willingness: I am willing. Thank you that you are willing to receive and cleanse me, however unclean I feel.