The Leper Cleansed

EARL MC CLOUD

He stands, a lonely figure, on the plain
Across which winds the Galilean road;
His eager gaze upon the throng which comes,
With eyes for none save him who leads.

The multitude draws near, the weary watcher stirs,
The coarse robe drops away, his face reveals.
"A leper!" mutter some; all stop in dread
Save one, who, heeding not the cry, "Unclean!"
And falt'ring not, comes to the watcher's side.
No trace of fear, no shrinking air, is there
To mar the loving look on his calm face.
Compassion shines in his clear eye, and stirs
The outcast's heart to hope for freedom and for health.
"Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean"!
Forth from his heart the pleading cry wells up,
And low upon his knees the suppliant falls
Before the one whom he so long has sought.
A murmur, as of fear, comes from the throng.
Unheeding still, the Master stands and sees
No leper—by the laws of men outcast—
But God's own image, ever perfect, whole,
As when His likeness first to Him appeared;
No loathsome wretch, barred out from home and friends,
But man, unfallen, perfect as his source.
His hand outstretched, the Master's gentle touch
Falls on the one who kneels; and then he says,
"I will; be thou clean." Then straightway springs
From out the dust, his face transfigured, clear,
By joy that healing brings to those who hear
Love's voice and heed the truth its message holds,
The man—outcast no longer—leaps upright.
Bathed and made clean in Love's all-healing stream,
Stripped of the tattered rag of error's garb,
Clad in the seamless robe of Truth's own child,
In humble gratitude his praise he speaks.
With loving words, the Master moves away
As healing truth unto the world he bears.
The crowd, awe-struck and eager, follows on,
More wisdom thus to gain, his works to see.

He stands, no longer lonely, on the plain
Across which winds the Galilean road;
No longer outcast,—healed and held by Love,
Beholding man in God's own likeness—free.

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