THE LEPROSY OF THE HEART

February 11, 2024 – 6^th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/021124.cfm)

Leprosy is such a terrible and horrible illness in Biblical times. People would not dare touching a person who was stricken with leprosy. Because of the foul smell from the rotten flesh of a leper, one would ran away to avoid such person. The illness was gruesome that people in biblical times would separate lepers from the community. There was no cure of such illness except a miracle from heaven. Even in the past recent past, colonies of lepers were founded in order to contain them in one place.

In fact, I have been into one of the colonies of lepers here in our country. During my college days in the seminary in Cebu, every weekend we would spend time with the lepers in their ward and spend a night in the community.

Today, leprosy is curable. Lepers would not suffer the same alienation and discrimination as before anymore. The sanitariums especially build for this purpose were now converted to General Hospitals. This means that leprosy is no longer a threat to the population.

However, what remained terrible and horrible, is not anymore the leprosy of the body, but the leprosy of the heart, that continually discriminates and condemns people, that plants hatred and fosters violence, that perpetrates abuse and corruption, that is unmoved and indifferent towards the sufferings of others, and that advances personal interest at the expense of the weak and the poor.

Hence, this is what I want to share and expound on this Sunday based on the readings that have been revealed to us. Let us revisit again the readings and discover how the Lord invites us to make our hearts clean and free from the leprosy of the heart.

In the Book of Leviticus, an instruction was given on how to treat a person with leprosy. And since, leprosy is believed to be also a form of punishment and condemnation, a person shall declare himself, “Unclean! “Unclean!” This will warn the people nearby that there was a leprous in the midst and so they can be away.

This also means that leper cannot stay with his/her family and friends. They were designated outside the camp, outside the affairs of the community. They were removed from the life of the community. One could imagine then, the loneliness and condemnation they received from the community. No one will touch them not even talk to them.

There was actually a medical explanation why they were separated from the community, and that was to protect the public from such medical threat. There was no cure for such illness before. However, such treatment fostered the culture of indifference, discrimination and hostility against the sick.

These are signs of a more terrible illness, the leprosy of the heart. These culture prevailed up to the time Jesus. As the Lord preached the Kingdom of God manifested in his many miracles, Jesus also witnessed the leprosy of the heart of the people. Those who claimed to be upright, religious and clean, where the ones who treated the lepers in the worst manner. This kind of leprosy rejects the presence of God. This kind of heart knows no mercy.

The indifference of the public and the lack of concern promoted a culture that pushes away the lepers to the fringes of the society. They were on their own, unaided and condemned to misery. These were the reasons why any Jew would not dare talking, being near or worst touching a leper. They were afraid that they might be contaminated and become unclean like the lepers.

However, there was a turn of events, when Jesus was in their midst. Jesus, who healed many sick people, forgave the sinners, became a glimmer of hope of the lepers. Indeed, through Jesus, lepers found hope, healing and life. In the Gospel of Mark, Jesus showed this hope, healing and life through his four life-giving movements.

First, Jesus was moved with pity. The heart of Jesus belongs to them. His is only filled with love and compassion. No discrimination. No judgment.

Second, Jesus stretched out his hand. An action that moves out to meet the other, to encounter a person.

Third, Jesus touched him. Jesus did what was unimaginable and what was impossible, not to impress people but to express love.

And fourth, Jesus said, “I will do it. Be made clean!” This is what love and compassion can do. After that, the leper was immediately cleaned and healed. He was given hope, healing and a new life. The person was liberated.

This can only come from a heart that knows how to be moved with pity, love and compassion, a heart that knows how to love and how to bring healing and life.

However, a heart that is stricken with leprosy, it stays distant from the Lord, rejecting love and compassion. This heart is truly lonely and sad, bitter and sick.

That is why, let us listen to what Paul reminded us in his first letter to the Corinthians, he said, “Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.” Let us strive that our heart may become like Jesus, that our heart will be free from the leprosy of indifference and hatred, of violence and bitterness.

Thus, for this Sunday, let us pray together and ask the Lord to bless our hearts, to clean and heal our hearts. I want you now to place your right hand to your heart, close your eyes and repeat after me.

“Lord Jesus fill my heart today with love and compassion. Make my heart gentle and humble. Free and heal my heart from the disease of indifference, violence, hatred, anger, resentment and bitterness.

Renew my heart today and make it like yours that I may be moved with compassion when I am confronted with those in need, that my heart may have the courage to take action and initiative to show kindness and generosity without asking anything in return.

Make my heart like yours, that I may also give hope and bring healing and life. Amen.”

Hinaut pa.