Dirty but loved.

Thursday of the First Week of Ordinary Time Mark 1:40-45 Year A Lepers were outcasts. They were socially and religiously isolated. Nobody wants to be with them. Why? Because they were considered dirty and dangerous to be with. Its like being infected of COVID 19. Their presence is risky and deadly. Thus, keeping your distance from them is the only safest way to do. (Social distancing) But I love what Jesus did: “Deeply moved, Jesus put out his hand and touched him.” Jesus knew that touching a leper will made him ritually unclean but His compassion is more powerful than what the law prescribed. He goes beyond the law. Jesus is showing us that love is the greatest law. Friends place your trust in Jesus for He will not fail us. Just approach Him and say: “Lord if You choose, you can make me clean.” Nowadays, we do not have leprosy issues literally speaking. However, countless number of people are and were suffering from isolation. Perhaps, you are one of them! Good number of individuals were ignored, avoided and neglected. Many children wants to be isolated from their parents. They found their parents annoying and irritating. On the other hand, many parents too are distancing themselves from their parental responsibility. Many company fired their workers for financial instability. Many individuals were isolated from each other because of different reasons perhaps because of anger, pride, social status, beliefs, sin, addictions, etc. Isolation is the modern leprosy. Today, Jesus is challenging us to reach out and touch those individuals we typically avoided. Friends, do we have the courage to be with the people ignored and isolated by many? Move and strech out your hands. Do not be comforted in living life invisibly. Today is the right time to approach the one you have been avoided and ignored in life. Friends, what keeps you or separates you from each others? Conclusion: God loves dirty people. God is here to cleanse us. You know what, we dont need healing, what we need is cleansing. “Lord if You choose, you can make me clean.” Friends, we have a compassionate God. He wants to be with the outcast. Today, Jesus is teaching us this lesson: Compassion is the solution not condemnation and isolation. Compassion is a verb with no boundaries. Never mind if you are dirty, come to Jesus. Why? Because to be far away from Jesus is the saddest isolation. Blessings Fr. Jhack