17 January 2019
Memorial of Saint Anthony, Abbot
Germs are everywhere –on door knobs, on cell phones, or on our iPads. We all want to stay clear of the germs that can make us sick. For some people, the fear of viruses and germs is so deep-rooted that it affects every part of their lives. A friend of mine who is a medical doctor never receives the precious blood from the chalice because of his concern about germs. A French philosopher Simone Weil was known as a “germaphobe.” A phobic dread of microbes ruled Weil’s household. The matriarch, Madame Saolomea Weil, ruled that the children should not be kissed by anyone outside the immediate family. When she took her son and daughter on a Paris bus, she had them sit on the top deck so as to minimize any chance of infection. Compulsive hand-washing was another habit she imposed on her children. At mealtimes, if the children needed to open a door after having washed their hands, they had to shove it open with an elbow. These phobias about food and germs would strongly affect Simone’s psychic makeup.
In the Gospel reading today, Mark tells us that Jesus was “moved with pity,” which stresses his compassion. Jesus stretches out his hand and touches the lepers. Jesus’ action is remarkable because Jesus defies the convention by touching the lepers. If we compare this story with the one of Naaman (2 Kings 5:10-11), the prophet Elijah did not have any physical contact with Naaman. Rather, Elijah asks Naaman to wash in the river. Alternatively, Jesus gets as close he can to the leper and even touches him. In the Old Testament, leprosy is frequently regarded as a punishment for sin. As a note, the term of “leprosy” (from the Greek leptein– peel off) in the Bible is most likely different than what we know of modern leprosy, also known as Hansen’s disease. The biblical understanding includes a wide variety of skin disorders. Regardless of the nature of the disease, Jesus is moved with compassion as he touches the man, and affirms that his humanity is not afraid of germ.
In our prayer today, imagine being with Jesus as he touches the lepers. How does it feel when you have to touch the person with skin disorders? Ask for God’s help to give you courage to touch the man. Ask God to help you live more compassionately with others.