1 John 5:5-13; Ps 147: 12-13. 14-15. 19-20; Luke 5:12-16
Leprosy was and still is a terrible illness. Not just of itself, but those suffering from it are often outcast - literally or socially - so that they do not pass on the disease to others. So it is not particularly surprising that Jesus willingly heals those suffering from it. What is remarkable is that Jesus TOUCHED the sufferer - which not only gave his real human flesh and blood the risk of contracting the disease, but also would have placed him in the same social situation - an outcast.
Christ is not here on earth now to reach out and touch lepers (or any other diseased person): we need to pray for healing for the sick, but also, we need to be prepared to reach out and touch them ourselves. We would then be fulfilling our Christening promises, made at our baptism, and through which we are made Christ like.