2024-02-09 21:46:10
Feeling pity, he touched it.
Dear brothers, peace and good.
We cannot imagine what leprosy meant. Today we know that it is not contagious, at least as much as was believed in ancient times. What was considered in the book of Leviticus leprosy, is understood in our time as other milder and temporary conditions, which, in many cases, can be cured. In any case, health prudence advised that the sick person leave the group, and this social marginalization also included a religious marginalization: the sick person was declared impure. He was deprived of salvation, because the illness was caused by some fault, and that meant that the sick person was a sinner.
Before continuing, it is worth remembering that Jesus is a man who does not consider anyone impure or lost, because everyone is a child of God. What’s more, the marginalized are Jesus’ favorites, to the point of Himself being considered impure. He too, at his time, will die outside the city, on the cross, like a plague-ridden man.
In reality, the disease always has some marginalization. Even the mildest ones, like the flu, can leave us “out of combat.” It prevents us from working, makes us weak and dependent, and reduces our freedom. It is true that, thank God, illnesses are no longer considered curses or divine punishments. But they confront us with our weakness and the fragility of life. The recent covid pandemic has reminded all of humanity of this. The sick person, physical or mental, through their own fault or that of others, or by pure chance, is someone who is on the margins and who to survive needs to ask, even beg. We can all identify with this situation of need.
Pablo reminds us of a reality that, sometimes, the competitive and successful society in which we live forgets. We should not always do everything to which we have the right (cf. Rom 15:1). Sometimes, out of love, we have to stop exercising our own rights. Bear the weight of the weak.
Paul wants to close the debate regarding whether it is legal to eat meat sacrificed to idols. It is seen that, as now, there were different sensitivities. For some it was just meat; For others it was blasphemy. Paul understood that this question might be a reason for schism in the nascent Church. That is why he appeals to consciences, so that they imitate him, who sought to “to please everyone in everything, not seeking my own good, but that of the majority, so that they may be saved.” In other words, laugh with those who laugh, cry with those who cry, always be aware of announcing the Word and leave the things that are less important in the background. If one can eat that meat, let him eat it. But if it might be a cause of scandal for others, it is better to abstain.
The Kingdom of God truly arrived for the leper of the Gospel. Jesus not only talks to him, but touches his skin, to heal him. He not only restores his physical integrity, but also returns him to the heart of the community. At the cost of defiling Himself, according to the law of the Jews. In this way, he cleanses what is impure, and declares that there is nothing that separates us from God if we are able to put ourselves in his hands and supplicate to him.
Perhaps it is striking that Jesus, following breaking the law of impurity, by touching the leper, asks him to comply with the prescriptions of that same law. At the same time, he asks her not to talk to anyone, when it is clear that such a spectacular healing cannot be kept a secret. Before Easter, Jesus does not want to be considered “the Messiah.” He has to progressively reveal how God frees us from death. Until then, we had to go little by little. So why does he ask her to introduce herself to the lawmen? Jesus may have wanted the priests to know that a great prophet has arisen in Israel. That the Kingdom of God has been revealed in this world. In turn, the healed sick person has the opportunity to bear witness to his healing.
Contemplating the leper who begs for healing, we can look back at our world and ourselves. Today leprosy is not a worrying disease, but there are other forms of leprosy, physical, moral, ideological, spiritual…, which produce marginalization and also cause suffering, separating us from others. What lepers are there in our society? What are my own lepers? Like Saint Francis of Assisi, perhaps we need a brush with one of those lepers to change our way of seeing things.
Can we feel sorry, sympathize with the sufferings of others? We may have varying degrees of compassion; some events affect us more than others. Jesus’ example reminds us that compassion is good, but it is not enough. He must move us to action, to get our hands dirty, to cross those borders and, like Saint Francis, dare to kiss the leper. In other words, do good, out of love for your neighbor. Without seeking anything in return, only that God be known, loved and served by all.
And I myself, like the brave leper of the Gospel, must have the courage to recognize my need, my “leproses,” to beg Jesus to touch me and heal me. Tell Jesus “if you want”, with the awareness that it means “I know you can”. Of course he can. To do this, we must get closer, as they say, “get within reach,” so that He can touch us. In prayer, in the Eucharist, in Reconciliation, in the daily reading of his Word… And, following feeling healed, like Peter’s mother-in-law, living with a grateful heart, in an attitude of service, saying out loud to everyone what what Christ has done with us.
Your brother in faith, Alejandro, CMF
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#Gospel #Reflection #Homily #Sunday #February
