Reading today’s Gospel I find solace. We meet a man with leprosy who is ostracized by society. Not only is he an outcast for public health reasons, but also religious reasons. He has been put in the margins by religious law, as we have seen in Leviticus. He can’t return to society until he is symptom free AND cleared by a priest.
Regardless of this man’s status in society, Jesus not only heals the man but TOUCHES the man. The son of God humbles himself to touch an “unclean” human. The intimacy of connection truly erases the margins between people.
Coming off the Christmas season, people often ask me what my favorite carol is. “O Holy Night” has always captivated me. When the Church sings “Fall on your knees” I’m a teary mess. And the lyric “He appeared and the soul felt its worth” has always struck me as this truly awesome moment when an individual finally realizes that they are made in the image and likeness of God with inherent dignity. So too does this man with leprosy…living beyond society’s margins, isolated by religious law, and yet he is so filled with joy that he can’t help himself and shares his healing.
Do we not see this story time and time again on the news? In our papers and news feeds? A person seeking acceptance because they are the “other”. Immigration laws reduce humans to criminals. Religious groups are quick to point out who belongs and others do not for not adhering to their rules and expectations. You are saved. You are not.
In Greg Boyle, SJ’s Tattoos on the Heart: The Power of Boundless Compassion, he shares
“Mother Teresa diagnoses the world’s ills in this way: we’ve just forgotten that we belong to each other’. Kinship is what happens to us when we refuse to let that happen. With kinship as the goal, other essential things fall into place; without it, no justice, no peace. I suspect that were kinship our goal, we would no longer be promoting justice – we would be celebrating it” (p.187).
God sent Jesus to bear the burden of humanity to show us the way. He humbled himself to eliminate margins, barriers and helped widen our concept of compassion.
When you turn on the news, drive in congested traffic, pass an unhoused individual, are on hold with a customer service 1-800 number for 30 minutes, witness laws being enacted to further marginalize, how do you respond? Do you change the channel, roll your eyes, choose not to vote because it’s hopeless? Or do you stoop down and humble yourself to create a moment of intimacy and say, I SEE you, fellow child of God. Do you help that other soul feel their worth through kinship?
Michele Bogard
As a product of formal Catholic education for 12 years, I truly believe my faith formation has come from working at Creighton University for the past quarter of century. Originally from the Chicago suburbs, I came to Creighton thinking that I would be in Omaha for a year or two and then move home. Little did I know how Creighton and Ignatian spirituality would alter my life plans! From accompanying students on Campus Ministry retreats, learning from former student/staff members who are now Jesuits, to working the Spiritual Exercises with the Deglman Center, I attempt to be a lifelong learner.
At work, I hope to help foster experiences where students feel a sense of belonging and focus on wellbeing, At home, I am a mother to a son who is a great source of joy, laughter and sore muscles (I am not an effective goalie for our front yard soccer practices and my tennis game is pretty rusty). A new gifted Kindle will hopefully help me catch up with a backlogged list of books I’ve been wanting to read. Carlos Ruiz Zafón is a favorite author. Travel is a lifetime passion; my son and I are already planning our next adventure.
I look forward to learning together with you as we reflect on the daily readings together.
