Today’s reading is Mark 1:40-45:
And a leper came to him, imploring him, and kneeling said to him, “If you will, you can make me clean.” Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand and touched him and said to him, “I will; be clean.” And immediately the leprosy left him, and he was made clean. And Jesus sternly charged him and sent him away at once, and said to him, “See that you say nothing to anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded, for a proof to them.” But he went out and began to talk freely about it, and to spread the news, so that Jesus could no longer openly enter a town, but was out in desolate places, and people were coming to him from every quarter.
—
My Healer,
Keep me at a distance, they have proven me unclean.
These sores that fill my body, I do not dare be seen.
I hide from integration, I’m numb from all the pain.
When I look around me, I can only see disdain.
But my heart is burning, and I cannot look away.
I desire to be close, I come to you today.
Taking off all the bandages, all my sores are seen.
I look into your eyes and know: “You can make me clean.”
You reach out your hand to mine, forgetting all my wrong,
Such tenderness I’ve never felt, with you I belong.
Whispering you said, “be made clean,” and clean I shall be.
You have touched me, and I will forever love thee.
Through this touch you have taken upon yourself
The very disease that has enslaved myself.
Through my integration comes your disintegration,
But now I will sing of your love to every nation.
Yours.
—
AnnMarie Healy ’16 is a junior in Kirkland House.