THOUGHT FOR
SUNDAY.
In the two short extracts from the book of Leviticus
in the first reading for Sunday we find the letter of the Law regarding
the treatment of those with infectious skin diseases. They are to be treated as
outcasts while the illness lasts and are to avoid contact with those who are
well.
In the Gospel reading we find the spirit of the
Law prevailing because two people were prepared to challenge the accepted
interpretation of the Law, the leper because of his desire to be healed and
return to family and loved ones within the community, and Jesus because he was
moved with compassion for one who was suffering.
Jesus frequently came into conflict with the Pharisees
because of their rigid interpretation of the Law. Jesus weighed the Law against
the good of the person and came down on the side of the weak and vulnerable.
This Gospel challenges us to consider our attitudes to those who fail to live
up to the rules and regulations considered necessary by family, society and
Church. Is our approach legalistic or compassionate?
We need to stretch out our hands and touch the
untouchables who are marginalized or alienated from us by a legalistic approach
or because they have failed to live up to our expectations of them. We need to
seek a way to reach out and give them a sense of belonging and self-worth, and
be prepared when necessary to stretch the Law with compassion, as Jesus did, to
include those who for various reasons are outside the camp.
At the end of this Gospel passage we find that even
Jesus had to stay outside in places where nobody lived. Not all that are
outside are unclean.
“If God goes beyond law and logic
for this poor leper,
is there anything he would not do
for us as well?”
(Surprised by Love……Robert J. Miller.)
Updated by Br. Dick Burke. 5/2/2012.