From pastor’s desk on the 6th Sunday in Ordinary Time, year B
What is the worst thing that may happen to us? – Is it death? Is it an illness or loss of a physical or mental function? Is it a damage of material goods? According to our faith the worst thing that may happen to us is the loss of eternal life. Thus, it is not in losing material possession, social status, not even losing good health nor physical death that are the worst. These things, even if we have them in abundance, do not matter, if we lose life in God.
In this Sunday’s gospel we hear about healing of a leper. Leprosy in the Old Testament was associated with sin and alienation from the community, which was also viewed as a separation from God. It was understood that if a person contracted leprosy, it was either that same person or someone else from the family that “must have committed a sin” and now the inflicted person suffers consequences of sin. For that reason, the lepers were considered unclean and could not approach other “healthy” people nor worship God in the Temple. It was not only a disease but also ritual uncleanness as it is described in the book of Leviticus.
Nonetheless, out Lord Jesus heals the leper showing that He has the power of healing both, the soul and the body. The leper was cured of the disease and purified spiritually. Thus, right after the miracle of healing Jesus commands the leper to go a priest in the Temple and make an offering to give glory to God for His merciful love. The worship of the One true God will be completion of healing.
The healing of a leper is an example of God’s care for the wellbeing of humanity. It is the entire humanity that is suffering from another terrible disease, which is original sin. Due to sin people have lost the most precious gift, that is, a life in God. While healing the leper Jesus Christ shows that He gives us a new life, a life of grace, so that “that we might live no longer for ourselves but for him who died and rose again for us” (The Fourth Eucharistic Prayer).
Whatever we are suffering from, let us remember that Christ wants to heal us and to restore us to the wholeness of humanity. But it cannot be at the cost of losing our soul. If we are not immediately healed or liberated, perhaps God wants to heal a much deeper wound that alienates us from Him. As the saying goes, “God does not always fulfill our wishes, but He always listens to our prayers.” As we begin the holy time of Lent, let us use it well in spiritual ways to allow God’s grace to touch our lives and transform them from within so we begin to think with the mind of God and do everything for the glory of God.
Have a blessed week. Fr. Janusz Mocarski