Jesus' healing of the leper brought him not only physical cleansing and restoration, but also, and primarily, psychological and spiritual healing, because the leprosy ate up and destroyed not only the physical body, but more so, the dignity and sense of self of the leper. The first reading illustrates how the early Jewish society imposed restrictions on the lepers' movements and isolate them from the community.
But Jesus act of touching the leper and curing him of his leprosy restored to him his dignity and sense of wholeness, and reunites him back to the community. This is the reason why he needed to show himself to the priests and make the necessary offerings.
Jesus comes close to us and touches us as we are. We only have to be humble enough to admit our sickness and therefore our need for healing. "If you wish, you can cure me."
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