Matthew 8:2-4: Jesus heals a man affected by leprosy.
It was during a phone call that Fr. Andrea Bigalli read me the passage and asked me: who is truly being healed in this story?
Leprosy, now known as Hansen’s disease, was a cause of isolation and stigma, as there were many others who were treated as outcasts.
Jesus comes close and heals his affliction. Is that all?
Fr. Andrea Bigalli is a member of the diocesan coordination group for an inclusive pastoral ministry in the Archdiocese of Florence, which accompanies gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people and their families. He is also a lecturer at the Higher Institute of Religious Sciences of Tuscany.
Coming from his pastoral experience, the question surely required a wider reflection.
Perhaps the Gospel invites us to look also at the eyes of those who saw danger and not a brother. At the ears that listened to fear before hearing the voice of a sister.
Through his closeness, Jesus heals the way we look at one another, the distance that settles in people’s hearts.
Many gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender individuals carry open wounds and scars, are victims of stigma or isolation.
Of course, the affliction in this Gospel passage is not to be put in parallel with sexual orientation or gender identity.
These belong to the richness and uniqueness of human beings, something that the Scriptures celebrate.
But closeness can heal families and friendships, communities, torn apart by stigma and judging hearts.
On Friday, June 19, 2026, at 9:00 PM CEST, Fr. Andrea Bigalli will invite us to reflect together online on this theme during the zoom round-table:
Called by Name – A Touch That Welcomes and Heals.
Italian-English interpretation will be available during the meeting.
To participate, please register at:
https://www.chiamatipernome.org
One important note, the event may be recorded, in whole or in part, and selected content may later be shared through channels connected with the initiative.
By participating, attendees acknowledge and accept this possibility. However, in order to preserve the dialogical nature of the gathering, the full recording will most likely not be made available after the event.
Article by Alessandro Ludovico Previti