TENDER:
1 When Jesus came down from the mountainside, large crowds followed him. 2 A man with leprosy came and knelt before him and said, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.”
3 Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” Immediately he was cleansed of his leprosy. Matthew 8:1-3
REFLECTION:
No one touches a leper.
A leper touches no one.
My ancestors were exiled from their homeland.
I know what that feels like.
Exiled by my family from my own home.
It’s been so long,
since.
I’ve never held my daughter’s daughter.
She’s never held me.
“Unclean, unclean,” I shout wherever I go.
Everyone moves aside with looks of disdain, and contempt.
Words follow me, the same ones – sinner, outcast, shamed.
All true.
From outside the city I heard this Rabbi Jesus as He came through our town.
“Good News,” He said.
“Come to me,” He says, as He motions to His hearers.
I see Him now, again.
He says the same thing, in the same way.
I have nothing to lose in coming to Him.
I have nothing.
“Unclean, unclean,” I exclaim.
He lifts His head above the crowd, as if He hears the shouting and commotion that follows me.
His face softens.
He nods.
I walk as quickly as my broken body will allow and kneel before Rabbi Jesus as one
kneels before King Herod, bowing my head low.
Lower.
Rabbi Jesus has no scepter. He has no crown. He does not hold court.
I have heard He has power, a heavenly one, and He freely gives it away.
Could He bestow on me such a blessing?
Even me?
So undeserving, unwelcomed,
unwanted.
One blessing from Him.
And.
Rabbi Jesus knows the law that should He touch me, He too would be unclean and
be cast out. Rabbi Jesus knows the law and moves in its spirit.
He moves toward me,
His presence brings peace over my fear, over all my frailty.
He kneels down before me as a servant would kneel to wash the feet of a guest.
Rabbi Jesus bends lower,
His eyes now looking up at me.
What does He see?
I cannot see.
He raises His hand and touches
my chin, slowly lifting my head
until my eyes finally meet His.
Eyes of joy.
Eyes of grace.
Eyes of healing
Eyes of compassion.
He speaks five life-changing words.
Words I will call to mind each time I hold my daughter’s daughter and she holds me.
“I am willing…Be clean.”
Then His embrace,
full of laughter and tears.
To be seen.
To be touched.
To be held.
To be healed.
To be whole.
To be holy.
Because of His tenderness,
I am.
Clean.
RESPOND:
-
- Where do you find yourself surrounded by the tenderness of Jesus?
- How might you partner with Jesus in extending His tender touch?
PRAYER:
Jesus, I long to know that you see me. I long to know what you see in me, what you really see. Would you open my eyes to see me the way you see me? Jesus, I long to be touched by you. A healing touch. A calming touch. A soothing touch. A touch that would bring a full and final peace. Would you, in tenderness, come? Come, Lord Jesus. Come.
