Deacon Tom Writes,
Spiritual Makeover
Although we hear very little of it today, leprosy was a much-dreaded disease throughout history until a treatment was developed in the 1940s. Scholars found the first written account of leprosy on an Egyptian Papyrus written around 1550 B.C. midway through the Israelites bondage there. What was the cure? Banishment! Can you imagine the feelings of utter rejection someone with leprosy would experience no matter what the timeline when they had the disease? The Leper in today’s gospel would no doubt have been seized with fear when he was found to be “unclean”? Unclean! Banishment meant isolation not only from participating in the services at the Synagogue, but also from family, friends. The entire family would suffer as he would no longer be able to provide for them. People with leprosy were banished to the “abode of the dead” for all intents and purposes. And, worst of all, there was no way back.
We can’t help realize as we read the gospels that Jesus did not recognize any barrier that kept people alienated from God’s abundant love. In fact, throughout Jesus’ ministry, He continued to challenge rules, attitudes, powers and authorities that led to those divisions or imposed obstacles to genuine and authentic spirituality, that is, union with God. Today’s gospel shows Jesus bringing God’s healing power to this forsaken man and making him clean. This intensely liberating act by Jesus allowed the cleanse Leper to reclaim his rightful place in the community.
Sin is tantamount to “spiritual leprosy”, a sickness that deprives us of God’s graces that are vital to life. Sin diverts our focus away from God. We choose instead to pursue our own selfish and often destructive desires. Let’s face it, we are not very pleasant at times and fall way short of “the glory of God”. We are demanding of others. To get what we want we can often be abusive, manipulative, and conniving. When we don’t get what we want, we can become bitter, resentful, and very ungrateful. We experience too many days when we are not our best selves and those around us know it! If we were honest with ourselves, we would admit that we know it to! We do many things that alienate us from one another, that undermine one of the most basic tenets of our faith, namely, that we are “temples” of the Holy Spirit and that the Spirit of God abides in us.
Jesus is always looking to wash away our sins in order to strengthen our relationship with Him. The Leper in today’s gospel shows us how to do that when he asks Jesus:
“If you wish, you can make me clean”.
And Jesus’ reply, “I do will it. Be made clean”.
If we wish it, Jesus can restore us to health –physical, spiritual or emotional. He can get us back on the road to true happiness and joy, even though we may have messed things up quite a bit. He can, in the words of the 23rd Psalm, “…. Restore my soul…” if, that is, we ask Him, and if we let Him.
As we prepare for the upcoming Lenten Season, may we look to Jesus to help us overcome our sinful past and to be made clean to enjoy the abundant life we find only through, with, and in Him.
Enjoy the day!
Deacon Tom
Image Credit: Christ cleans leper man http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:
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