Everybody knows a story of a frog who becomes a prince....

“ A leper came to Jesus ...” In light of the first reading, we are aware of the customs in respect of lepers in Israel . The leper must remain outside the camp.

The Book of Leviticus lists a number of circumstances under which a person became ritually unclean, and for which the prescription is ritual cleansing or retreat outside the camp. The leper symbolises all the marginalised, and in the Old Testament, the sinner. Leprosy was regarded as a punishment from God, a sign of unrighteousness.

Can we imagine the mindset of this man as he comes to Jesus? How did he hear about Jesus in the first place? How many stories of healing did he hear before he decided to undertake this major step? How long did he suffer this condition?

Since lepers tended to live in community, why did he come alone? What catalyst initiated his decision to rise and come to Jesus? Faith? Desperation? He “ pleaded on his knees ...” Maybe it was much more than desperation; maybe it was profound faith. His skin may be infected but his spirit discerns divinity.

His coming to Jesus is as much an act of worship as a plea for help – Your will be done . His body may be diseased but his spirit is radically free. And so Jesus touches him. He is included.

The notion that a community is best judged by the way it treats its most vulnerable members is entirely valid. In our land we have clearly not worked out how we will re-integrate the brothers/sisters we have marginalised: the mentally ill, the homeless, people who have been incarcerated, drug addicts, people infected with HIV/AIDS, people who are differently-abled, people in broken marriages, children who cannot benefit optimally from our traditional grammar school education, and young people who are unskilled and unemployed.

In a recent article in the local press, an official who represents differently-abled people, lamented the poor treatment meted out to a visitor who was visually challenged. Clearly, we are not yet as sensitive as we should be to the needs of people whom we consider different from ourselves.

“ The man went away ...” He came as a leper, he is touched by Jesus, he leaves as a MAN – a PERSON. His dignity is restored, his identity re-established, the frog has become a prince again! And he immediately discovers his vocation.

No longer constrained to remain outside the camp, he celebrates his inclusion by becoming a zealous witness to Jesus. In our work as catechists, it is very consoling to see the people with whom we work (both young and adult), come to a better understanding of who they are as beloved children of God, and committing themselves to service in the community.

Leprosy is a metaphor for sin, and in that sense, we are all lepers in need of God's touch. But that touch often depends on our recognition of the need to be touched. As Dr Phil often says, “admission is the beginning of the healing process.”

We too have been touched. At baptism, the priest touched us and said: “I baptise you in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” At confirmation we were touched by the bishop/priest who said: “Be sealed with the Holy Spirit.” On both occasions healing occurred, making us more closely resemble Him in whose image we were made.

We give God thanks for what he has done in us; how he has touched these two lepers and incorporated us in his work of salvation.

Jesus could no longer go openly in any town . . .What a dramatic reversal! He who was outside is now inside, and he who was inside can no longer remain. Jesus is now the leper. This is the essence of salvation. In love, Jesus allows the liberated man to replace him. What profound humility! What profound self-esteem!

How do I minister? Is the ministry mine? Do I consider myself indispensable to it? How am I equipping others as I minister with them? Do I hold on to my role, or am I flexible in the hands of the potter who is shaping me?

Do I feel threatened when new people are called into ministry, or do I rejoice with them, encourage them and help them? Am I grateful to God for the gifts he has given to me or do I compare myself with others? Am I jealous of others in ministry?

Even so ... there is work enough for each of us in the kingdom.

Lord, we ask your forgiveness for the many ways in which we have sinned by rejecting others who are different from us.

We thank you for all those who have touched and healed us; our parents and other relatives, our teachers, friends and priests.

Give us the grace we pray, to recognise our need for constant healing and to avail ourselves of the sacraments of healing. Amen.

Kenneth and Bernadette Phillips are catechists in St Joseph 's parish, Scarborough.