Feb. 12, 2012: 6th Sunday in Ordinary Time (B)

There are people in this world who, because of their positive attitude, inviting temperament, and gregarious nature, draw our attention to them. We are attracted by their magnetism, just as moths are drawn to the light at night. We have a great desire to spend time with them and to be with them. Likewise, there are people who, because of their sarcastic attitude, gloomy temperament, and reserved nature, repel us. They seem to us, like a dark, musty room where we would not like to spend too much time. It is as if their light has been smothered by something dark. We all have met people like that, haven't we? Imagine then, a 17-year old young man in high school with long dark hair, black clothing, gloomy face and negative attitude, who despised religion. The people around him felt uncomfortable to be with him. Moreover, he was uncomfortable being with himself, because for him, it was like being in a dark, musty room.

The description of this young man is not too different from the man who approached Jesus in desperation. He had leprosy, was ostracized from his family and town, and he experienced loneliness amid pain of his disease. He was not supposed to approach anyone, and if anyone approached him, he was supposed to cry out, "I'm unclean! Avoid me!" Then I wonder what prompted him to be so bold to approach Jesus. He must have been starving for love. We can find men and women in his condition all around us even today. I am not speaking of persons with leprosy, but men and women who genuinely starve for love. Their past hurts, addictions, or hopelessness keep them from reaching out. The man with leprosy boldly approached Jesus, drawn by Jesus' magnetism. He was seeking physical healing, but there was also something deeper that he needed? Fr. Henri Nouwen described it best when he wrote: “When we honestly ask ourselves which person in our lives means the most to us, we often find that it is those who, instead of giving advice, solutions, or cures, have chosen rather to share our pain and touch our wounds with a warm and tender hand. The friend who can be silent with us in a moment of despair or confusion, who can stay with us in an hour of grief and bereavement, who can tolerate not knowing, not curing, not healing and face with us the reality of our powerlessness, that is a friend who cares.”

Jesus did not just heal the man of a skin condition: Jesus tenderly touched him and desired that the man reconnect with his family and community who could provide love. There were probably disciples of Jesus who cringed as Jesus reached over to touch that man's leprous skin. Yet, Jesus wanted to teach his disciples that when they reach out with love, it could bring a person out from their isolated, dark, musty room.

A while ago at a priest conference, a young religious sister named Sr. Catherine shared her stories of evangelization to young people on the beaches in France. She first asked us to imagine this scene:

It is 2AM in the morning, there is a nightclub blaring out techno music near the seashore, and sitting on the sandy shore are about a hundred or so young people. Some are drinking and their bottles are strewn here and there. Some are smoking. Some are buying and trying drugs like Ecstasy. Some are pairing off to go off to some private places. The scene she described was the first night Sr. Catherine was out doing evangelization. She was quite nervous and wondered what she should say to them? She thought that would not want to hear about God. She asked the other sister, “What should I do when I meet them?” The sister replied, “Love them. Listen to them. Be present to them. Listen to their questions and reflections. Listen for where their hurts are.” Sr. Catherine thought, ‘Honestly, walking over to a group of young people who were out for a good time and to talk to them about God was not something she had in mind, especially at 2 in the morning.’ Yet, St. Catherine was haunted by the call of God, “Whom should I send? Whom should I send to let these young people know about Me?” Sr. Catherine reluctantly said to God in silence, “Oh, okay. Send me.” As the sisters and the team approached the young people, a few of them turned around and with amusement said, “Hey look! Nuns.” Then, the dialogue began.

Sr. Catherine began to talk with a 22 yr. old young man named Steffen. He had plenty of piercings on his face. Steffen told the sister that he has been frequenting this nightclub area since the age of 16. He said one of only joys in his life is to go on Raves (large techno parties). Sr. Catherine began to tell him about her personal encounter with Jesus, where she experienced peace, joy, and love. Steffen asked, "Did you take something, Sister?" he meant did you take Ecstasy? No, she said. They talked a little bit. Without question, he accepted her request if she could pray together. And she asked him, what would you like to ask Jesus? "I want to be happy." So sitting there with Steffen, Sr. Catherine addressed herself to Jesus with very simple words. A very sweet peace immersed both of them. And he asked the sister, “What is this thing filling my heart? I have a feeling that it is going to explode. I even want to cry. But I never cry. Is this the love of God?” So she asked him smiling, "Did you take something?" "No." As they were finishing up the prayer, he ran up to the young priest and said, "Are you a priest, a real priest? Can you do that thing where we tell you the bad things that we've done and you forgive us?" He meant the Sacrament of Reconciliation. The last time he had gone was when he was a child. Right there on the sand, with the musical background of the techno just a few feet away, he received the forgiveness of God. Sr. Catherine said, “From that moment I said, ‘What a joy to be an instrument of God.’”

Our Lord asks each of us to be like Sr. Catherine, willing to reach out and touch a soul who are not so lovable at first sight. We may not be privileged to see the transformation right at that moment. We may be able to see fruit of our compassion only years later, just like that 17-year old high school kid who was transformed by love and now stands before you as a priest.