+ In our day and age we are not familiar with what it means
to be a leper – as the physical disease has been all but
completely eliminated by medical means. But
in Jesus’ day – and in the ages before him – leprosy meant two equally
abhorrent things: that you had a disgusting skin infection, but also that you
had it because of either your sins or the sins of your family before you. Not
only this, but the very law of Moses itself prescribed that the lepers were to
be shunned and kept separate and away from everyone – this most likely to keep
the lepers from contaminating everyone else, but also, because they were
sinners and were not welcome in common society.
When Jesus therefore cures the
leper in the gospel passage: three very important things happened: 1) he
demonstrated that he had the great power of God over nature to do it; 2) he
demonstrated the amazing love of God to even associate with and embrace such a
person; 3) Jesus showed he had power over the Law, by not only forgiving the
sin involved but also nullifying all severe restrictions that had been placed
on lepers. It would take time for the disease to be controlled by medicine: but
the leper was no longer to be considered a sinner; and help should be given,
compassion shown, and food, shelter and medical attention provided.
The
second reading today tells us the motivation we should have for
doing all these things: the glory of God.
Whatever you do, do everything for the
glory of God. Avoid giving offense. Lend a helping hand.
As
Catholic Christians we must have always before our eyes the brilliant vision of the light of God’s
glory, his face: to light our path, to help us see clearly our priorities
and duties, and to compel us to defend and help any who need our help, at any
cost, led by the principles and moral values we have committed ourselves to in
living the Christian way of life.
A great prophet has arisen in our midst,
God has visited his people: that prophet, in so many ways, due to our
baptisms, is us: let our voices be heard then, and our actions speak even more generously
and loudly – to the glory of God the
Father. Amen!
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