This Sunday's Gospel invites us to think about the choices we make as individuals and as a family. Jesus was faced with a choice in today’s Gospel. By choosing to heal the man with leprosy, Jesus showed God’s compassion for the sick and the outcast. The man knew that Jesus had a choice and that Jesus could reject his request. He may have expected that Jesus would not help him. The social taboos regarding leprosy certainly gave him little on which to base his hope. In the person of the man with leprosy, we see an image of all those in need. The sick and the outcast of our world are watching us, to see if we as Christians will choose to extend ourselves to others in need of healing and compassion.
I asked myself this morning how many times I have heard this Gospel but today it impacted me a little differently, I actually feel the stigma that this man most likely felt. Last week I tested positive for Covid and I have spent the last week feeling ashamed and almost dirty. I do not know how or where I contracted it, thankfully it was not spread to anyone outside of my home. I would feel absolutely horrible if I knew that I was responsible for infecting someone. I feel ashamed, I feel guilty, I feel lonely, I feel sad but I also feel very lucky that I was able to fight this virus and not become as ill as many people have or even those that were unable to fight and lost their lives.
COVID-19 has spread throughout the entire world, and everyone is viewing those around them as a potential carrier and therefore a potential threat. How many of us have not seen our families in months, how many birthdays have we missed, how many special life changing moments have we been unable to share with those we love the most. We are living in a time where we are afraid of other people. This is completely understandable, but it is sad and many people feel isolated. I realized after this week of being isolated how much I miss human touch, especially hugs. The first thing I did when I found out my son was positive was to ask him for a hug, I needed that reassurance that as alone as I was feeling I still was loved. I don't want to be afraid
So as I was reading this Sunday's Gospel about Jesus healing the leper, as I said earlier it affected me in a new way in light of all that is happening in our own world. Lepers in that day we were seen as unclean. No one wanted to be near them or touch them. If they were in public, they had to shout “unclean” to warn passersby. They were isolated. Untouchable. Pushed outside of the love and affection shared by others in society. And for good reason. What I love about this story is NOT just that Jesus heals the leper, but I love HOW He does so. He did not just speak to the leper, but He touched him. Jesus did not shy away from this man but moved toward him. And in doing so, Jesus made him clean again. Rereading this story has made me freshly grateful for how Christ has done this for me as well. Jesus will not shy away from me in my guilt and shame.
The corona virus is a small problem in comparison to that of the sin of humanity. Please remember, when you come into contact with someone that has just battled this virus treat them with kindness and compassion. Do not judge them and the fact that they contracted the virus, most of the time it is through no fault of their own.
Gather with your family and talk about some of the choices you have made as a family. (where to go on vacation, what activities to do together, how to spend our evenings, and so on) How does your family go about making these decisions? What do your choices communicate to others about your family’s values? In today’s Gospel, Jesus was faced with a choice. Read today’s Gospel, Mark 1:40-45. In choosing to heal the man with leprosy, Jesus chose to show God’s compassion and mercy. All our choices reflect our faith, and others are watching.