When we travel in these days through the streets of Germany, we may notice some interesting posters by "Misereor" - It is their Empowering-Campaign. We come across with some interesting slogans like "Courage is the weapon, to fight with words" or "Courage is to go there, where others flee". Misereor tries to encourage and empower the week through such activities. It is a good work; through them people get their own worth in the society.
I would interpret today's Gospel in this direction.
It is true that Faith and religion are considered by some as the weapon of the weak. But the readings of the day esp. the Gospel is giving another view.
In today's Gospel we meet two people with extra ordinary courage.
One is The Leper and the other is of course Jesus.
The leper was brave because, he breaks the rules for his faith and to be healed. Then it was not allowed for a leper to appear in the society public, because of the cleanliness rituals of the Jews. The first reading is the evidence to that. Through these instructions people were determined to a live closed and often a degraded life. But, the leper in the Gospel had the courage to break the rules. It was not his intention to break them. But his desire to get cured and to have a normal life empowers him to do that. The social isolation was such cruel.
He is brave enough to come forward to Jesus and even to challenge. "If you are willing... then cure me". Is it not a challenge? Yes, God is his nature, do not want some one curse or damn. He has only good wishes for us. Now through this request he is provoking Jesus to the level that Jesus had to do a wonder for this man.
The next courageous man, Jesus, is showing it through his reaction.
Then the law also instructs people to abstain from the contact of such unclean people and objects etc. Who ever comes in to contact such unclean situation, will be also unclean and had to undergo the laws of purification.
But Jesus is not avoiding the presence of this Leper. To the next (extreme) step he is touching the Leper and curing him.
The Gospel teaches us, one is cured or one experience God's will through such courageous acts. The faith is the big factor behind this courage.
Jesus action is not just for the Gospel's sake. It gives us a message for our life. It reminds us how we should act.
It is also a question to the church...a self criticism.
Who is welcomed in the church?
Whom we are looking for in the church?
How much the outcastes are accepted in the church?
Jesus never reserved his kingdom for any special class; it was open for all with a desire to God. It is open for both to rich and poor, sinner and righteous. The only matter he counted was the faith and desire for the divine.
The Psalm tells, "I confess my faults to the LORD," and you took away the guilt of my sin". Yes, this is the only action God asks from any of his follower - to accept the Self and the Divinity of God.
St Paul says in the letter to Corinthians (10, 31-11,1) he wants all may be saved. It is not only the desire of St Paul, but it is the divine will. St Paul as his apostle is continuing this mission, the mission of Jesus, which is the will of God. God wants to keep us pure and clean.
This gospel passage is a reminder for our church and all her ministers.
Jesus wants to share his healing touch in the church.
But unfortunately we have too much barriers. People actually needed to be united, are often divided because of Rite and Traditions and for much more reasons. And this remains as a complicated issue.
As the leper and Jesus, we need courage driven by the faith.
- Courage to touch and communicate with the unclean and outcasts.
- Courage to solve the dilemma.
This is simple to preach. But it needs power - from above.
May our church, be a place where "God speaks with us";
where he can "touch and cure" the needy.
Let us ask the spirit for his courage and light, that we may keep the doors opened for the needy and good seeking. God bless us all! Amen
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Fr Thomas Kalathil
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