Breakfast with the Word Story Reflection: Jesus Does Not Reject the Rejected

 

Breakfast with the Word Story Reflection

for Friday After Epiphany

Topic : Jesus Does Not Reject the Rejected.

 

Before his conversion, Saint Francis of Assisi had a deep fear and disgust for lepers. In his time, lepers were rejected by society. They were forced to live outside towns, avoided, insulted, and treated as though they were already dead. People believed their sickness was a punishment from God. No one wanted to be close to them.

 

One day, while riding his horse, Saint Francis saw a leper approaching him on the road. His first instinct was to run away. Everything within him told him to avoid the man. But then Francis remembered Jesus, the Jesus who touched the leper in the Gospel of Luke, the Jesus who does not reject the rejected.

 

Francis stopped. He got down from his horse, and walked toward the leper.

Instead of throwing a coin from a distance or speaking from afar, Francis embraced the man and kissed his wounded hand.

 In that moment, something extraordinary happened. Francis later testified that what once filled him with fear became sweetness of soul. The leper, once rejected by everyone, became the face of Christ for Francis.

That encounter changed his life forever.

Francis realized a profound truth that when the world rejects, Jesus draws closer.
When society pushes people away, Jesus stretches out His hand. When others see uncleanness, Jesus sees a beloved child.

This is exactly what happens in Luke 5:12–16.

The leper approaches Jesus, isolated, rejected, ashamed. He does not demand healing; he says, “If you want to, you can make me clean.” He leaves the decision to love in the hands of Jesus. And Jesus responds without hesitation: “Of course I want to. Be made clean.”

Jesus touches him. That touch is more powerful than the healing itself. It tells the man:
You are not abandoned. You are not cursed. You are not untouchable.

Just as the leper found acceptance in Jesus, and just as Saint Francis discovered Christ in the rejected leper, we too are reminded that Jesus never turns away those who come to Him, no matter how broken, weak, sinful, or rejected they feel.

When others walk away, Jesus remains. When helpers fail, Jesus stays. When the world rejects you, Jesus receives you.

Many suffer rejection due to sickness, poverty, weakness, or past mistakes, just like the leper in the Gospel. Let us not abandon them in these moments of trials and difficulties. 

In the gospel, Jesus touches what others avoid. Jesus breaks cultural and religious barriers to show that love is greater than rules and fear. Let love lead. 

Finally, No matter who has rejected you, misunderstood you, or walked away from you, Jesus has not rejected you. Go to Him as you are. Let Him touch what hurts. You will never meet Jesus and remain the same.

Amen.

 

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