Friday 8 January

1 John 5:5-13; Psalm 147: 12-15; 18-20; Luke 5:12-16

Jesus stretched out his hand

Certain skin afflictions could make a person impure amongst Jews in the time of Jesus. This led to ostracisation and isolation; such people were shunned and never approached. Imagine experiencing such revulsion from family, friends and colleagues! How crippling and demeaning it would be. Then again imagine how uplifting and liberating, how healing it would be to have someone reach out and touch you. We are called to be like Jesus – to reach out to those who are ostracised and isolated, those who are shunned and abandoned. Who are the lepers in my community, my neighbourhood?