Now leprosy is called Hansen's disease, which doesn't carry nearly the stigma that the word leprosy does.  Because it was believed leprosy was highly contagious those with leprosy were to be avoided, not touched.  Even today I very quickly associate the word "leper" with "don't touch."

I wonder how lepers survived in olden times.  Well, maybe I do know.  They hung out together.  They formed groups.  They were safe with each other and accepted and for that reason perhaps felt some sense of value and belonging.  They didn't have to worry about catching something bad from each other because they already all had it.

When it came to their relationship with the "healthy" population, however, it was another story.   They were avoided like they were the plague.  People didn't want to "catch" what they had and social distance was the way to accomplish that.

What intrigues me in the story above is that Jesus touched the leper before he healed him.  He seemed oblivious to the danger of catching something.  He seemed to believe that the healing power in him was stronger than the power of the disease, expressing that power by touching the leper first and then healing him.   Could he have healed him without the touch?  Of course.  In fact, in other stories in the Gospels of him healing lepers he healed them without touching them.

But in this case he first touched. 

Touch in itself has the power to heal.  If most of our pain is because of some sort of separation from what is healthy and whole, touch makes connection and often communicates acceptance, especially if it is gentle touch on that which is very sensitive. 

Physical touch is one kind of touch that can be healing.  (Why do we sometimes put our hands on someone we are praying for?)  But there are other kinds of touch that also heal.  Words spoken at the right time have power to heal (to bring together, to restore).  Sometimes when people speak words to us we know they understand where we are and that they are willing to let us be there, even if we are not in a good place, and the companionship is healing. 

Unfortunately, a little like the lepers, we may feel there is something about us that makes us untouchable, unacceptable, often something about which we feel shame.  And so we hide it rather than expose ourselves to the possibility that discovery would mean isolation.  Sure, our own failures and weaknesses may be ugly to us, but rejecting them only increases the isolation.  They must be welcomed.

Let's remember that there is nothing about us or anyone else that is untouchable (unacceptable) to Jesus - no sin, no failure, no weakness.  If it can be touched, it can be healed. 

"Jesus, I think the thought of anyone needing to get 'cleaned up' before you could love them by touching them never crossed your mind.  You knew that hate and avoidance never heal - they only bring more pain and separation.  And thank you for living the reality that the power of love within you was greater than the fear of contamination.  Help me to believe, and live. Amen"

I work with individuals, couples, and families to identify the ways of life and death in their lives and help uncover the motivation to choose that which leads to life, whether it be through counseling or spiritual direction.  - Sheldon Swartz, MA/LMFT