"Jesus was in a city occurred when a man covered with leprosy; it, seeing Jesus, fell on his face against the ground and asked: "Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean." Jesus reached out his hand and touched him and said: "I will, be clean." At the same time, his leprosy left him. Then Jesus ordered him not to tell anyone, "Go Instead, show yourself to the priest and give to your cleansing what Moses prescribed; your healing will be a witness for the people. "We talked about it more and more. Large crowds flocked to hear and be healed of their diseases. But he withdrew to lonely places and prayed. " Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Luke 5.12-16
" "Jesus reached out his hand and touched him and said: Be clean." Jesus does not say simply: "I will, be healed." Better yet "He reached out and touched him." That is worthy of attention. Since the cured by an act of his will and by word, why has he touched the hand? Not for another reason, I think he, to show that he is not less but more than the Act, and now, nothing is unclean for someone to clean ... The hand of Jesus has not become impure in contact with the lepers on the contrary, the body of the leper was purified by the holiness of that hand. Is that Christ came not only heal the body, but elevate the souls to holiness, and he teaches us here to take care of our soul, to purify it, without worrying about external ablutions. The only leprosy danger is that of the soul, that is to say sin ... "
" As for us, God always to give thanks. Thank him not only for the goods he has given us, but for those he has granted to others, so we can destroy desire, maintain and increase our love of neighbor ... "
Saint John Chrysostom (c. 345-407)
