Just as leprosy starts small but spreads and grows, so one sin, one betrayal of our conscience or one compromise with Church teaching can easily become a spark that starts a spiritual forest fire. And so, when Jesus reaches out and touches the leper, and heals him, it is much more than just another miracle. It is a revelation of Christ's entire mission. He is the Redeemer, the Savior; he is the one who comes into this fallen, sin-infected world and, with the power of his mercy and grace, cleanses it and gives it a new start. And he does the same thing with each one of our lives, as often as we need it. Jesus came, and he still comes, not to condemn, but to save.