February 15, 2015
What a contrast between the first reading and the gospel today!
Both readings deal with the treatment of lepers, although the
approaches are radically different.
In the first reading, an exclusive approach is the norm:
quarantine.
Lepers are segregated from other people, excluded from society, banished
to the margins of society, stripped of their dignity— a rejected and dejected
people.
There is little reason to wonder why those who suffered from the
dread disease that we now call Hansen's disease, were referred to as "the
living dead."
It was a death sentence for those who contracted this disease.
The first reading gives a sample of the purification rite whereby
the afflicted could be restored to the community.
Why, if leprosy is incurable?
The word "unclean," encompassed more than Hansen's
disease.
Taking no chances, dermatological disorders of all sorts were
considered unclean, for example, psoriasis, eczema, acne, boils, ulcers,
rashes, and even dandruff.
Unlike leprosy, many of these conditions were curable, and those
were the people reinstated into the community.
"Go, show yourself to the priest." (Mark 1:44)
In the gospel, Jesus adopts an inclusive approach.
He refuses to exclude from his space the leper who speaks to him.
He is happy to touch the leper.
He wants to cure the leper and he does so.
He respects his dignity.
Jesus always looked toward the edges of the crowds gathered around
him and he invites those who have been banished to assume a center-stage role.
Often this was much to the annoyance of the other people.
In daring to touch the untouchable, Jesus becomes the outcast, the
one who must hide.
No, I haven't seen any lepers standing in rags announcing that
they are "unclean."
Our "lepers" today may be those who stand in front of us
in the grocery checkout line with food stamps
or our young people who wear jewelry in the "wrong"
places on their bodies.
You get the picture.
Today's lepers are quite aware that we resist standing near them, that
we hope they'll choose another row to sit in, or that we caution our children
about speaking to them.
They, and we, know well the depth to which we humans can stoop in
our desire to distance ourselves from those we deem unacceptable.
There is one other facet to this story about those who are
"unclean."
It may be relatively easy to identify who the "lepers"
are for each of us.
The question is this:
Can we identify and acknowledge the "unclean" place
within ourselves?
Those limitations or sins that discourage or embarrass us?
Do we touch that which is "untouchable" in ourselves?
If not, there's probably little chance we will have compassion for
the flaws of others.
We are about to enter the Lenten season, a time to strip away our
pretenses and defenses
to discover what lies beneath the layers of accumulated
"stuff."
Should we choose to look deep inside, we may find that place
within our own unique "leprosy" that is still in need of healing.
Perhaps we will be prompted to approach the One who can touch us
lovingly, and make us clean.
Perhaps, kneeling together, we will recognize that in our deep,
secret flaws,
we and the leper are one.
In that discovery, we might be willing to widen our circle to
include all those we keep at arm's length, untouchable for whatever reason.
Perhaps, come Easter, may each of us, like that healed leper, have
something worth shouting about!
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