Sunday's Gospel begins by telling us that Jesus is on a journey; he is on the way to Jerusalem. We know what happens in Jerusalem; it is there where Jesus will suffer and die. He is moving physically, but he is also making an inner journey; he follows his call and knows his identity and who he is. We know that
Jesus will be rejected, isolated and alone in Jerusalem. His friends will leave him as he faces his passion and cross.
On this journey, Jesus meets ten lepers. We hear that they approach Jesus – even though they stay far away. They are already in the space of rejection, isolation, and loneliness. Yet, they are where Jesus will be in Jerusalem.
We are told that they stay away from Jesus – keep a physical distance – because health protocol demands this of lepers. However, their physical space also indicates their social, psychological, and spiritual alienation from others and their very selves.
Notice how there is no differentiation between them. Only afterwards do we hear that one was a Samaritan. Not only
were they lepers, but they were also so lost within themselves. They did not have an identity; they had no sense of calling.
Our journey of life is not too dissimilar from that of the lepers. There are times when we feel rejected, isolated, and lonely. For example, we might experience this as the physical distance between us and others. Sometimes we feel the emotional distance in significant relationships.
We might feel as if we are lost within ourselves, that we do not know who we are. We might think that we, too, do not have an identity – or we have lost our identity.
In this account, Jesus does much more than heal the lepers. He restores them to relationships and moves them out of rejection, isolation, and loneliness. He offers a new identity and gives them meaning and purpose.
Are you feeling like a leper at this time – rejected, isolated and lonely? Are you keeping a distance from others or maybe feeling that distance within yourself? Why? What is your identity? Take a few minutes today to sit with these questions. Allow yourself to sense where you are today.
