OVERCOMING OUR LEPROSY*

REFLECTION FOR 28TH SUNDAY OF THE YEAR C

THEME: OVERCOMING OUR LEPROSY

R1: 2 Kings 5:14-17

R2: 2 Tim 2:8-13

Luke17:11-19_

In the ancient Jewish culture, leprosy was a symbol of sin, those who suffer from it were seen as those who have gravely  offended God through arrogance, theft, muder, perjury and insest. They were taken as the worst of all sinners hence, they were ostracised from the community and lived very far from others and had nothing in common with the members of the community to avoid contaminating them. They were to wear a bell around their waist while passing along a part to alert people that a leaper is approaching.

It is surprising that in the gospel, Jesus encounters ten (10) of them. That means, these lepers took a risk and went against all the laws preventing them from associating with others, just to approach Jesus. The number ten is a significant one; meaning  completeness or totality. This number (10) signifies the totality of mankind. We have been separated from the community of God due to sin. The whole of us have sinned and come short of the glory of God.

Even though we have sinned and gone far away from God, just like these ten lepers, we are expected to make a movement together as a community towards Jesus for healing. As none of the ten lepers was found wanting, we too must pray together as a family, as Church for the forgiveness of one another. There is no one who has no need of Jesus, since he alone can grant us healing and reconcile us with God and the family of God in heaven. To do this, we must all put aside pride and refuse to listen to the discouraging voice of the crowd that may prevent us from making a movement towards  Jesus. 

Jesus can grant healing directly by himself through a miraculous experience or through using others as agents to our healing. He may use others; priests, ministers, good advice from family and friends. However, we must listen to the instructions he gives (Go and show yourself to the priest or bath in Jordan). This voice of Jesus is essential in changing our situation.  

Refusing to listen to the voice of God will be like Naaman who almost lost the healing for considering the River Jordan as not a better river for him to bath. This is exactly how some of us see the Church and her teachings and the Bible as outdated and as nothing to help their conditions; they feel there is a better way to do things than following the commands of Jesus. The lepers would not have been healed if they refused or had seen Jesus’ command to see the priest as nothing. Hence, let us stop giving excuses and doubting, learn to listen to Jesus words and act on them then salvation will be yours. But remember, thanksgiving is important, it completes our healing process.

Reflection by:

*Rev. Fr. Chukwuemeka VINCENT Livinus, SMMM.*