Position is everything
in life, they say.
If this is true,
then it's worth watching
the position of the ten lepers
who ask for healing
as Our Lord enters their town.
Because of their condition
they stand at a prudent distance
from Jesus.
That is the done thing.
We're used to that
even in this day and age.
When COVID lockdowns happen,
business is conducted at a distance.
So the lepers are acting
in a socially acceptable fashion
when approaching Jesus.
That's their starting position.
Then they are told
to show themselves to the priests
who have the responsibility
to declare them clean
or not.
And now we see them set off.
Their distance from Jesus
is increasing
but necessary for them
to be declared clean.
It is then
that salvation comes to them.
Salvation in the sense
of being salved, cured, healed.
Nine continue on their way
recognising the cure
but still walking away from Jesus
more concerned
with being declared clean
and being restored to society.
Their cries of relief
are heard
but they must go to the priests
to praise God.
But the tenth,
the Samaritan,
a man who has no position
in the eyes of the Jewish society,
turns back to Christ.
His position
becomes prostration
at the feet of Jesus,
no longer far off
but in a closeness
that would be obscene
if he were still a leper.
But it is here,
at the feet of Christ
that glory is given to God.
It's not that the nine others
aren't giving glory to God
in the temple,
it's that this one leper
recognises the grace of God
in his healing
and recognises that the source
of this grace is not far off
but here, right here,
standing and waiting for his thanks
with blessing upon blessing
in His holy and venerable hands.
[PAUSE]
This is a key moment
in that it points directly
to Jesus as God,
not a prophet,
not a messenger,
not an angel
but Christ Our God.
Further,
it shows that,
while we come to Church
to find and worship God,
He is always near us.
Our Church will always
make His presence clear
to the world,
but,
for us Christians
who seek first
the Kingdom of God
and His righteousness,
He is always nearer than we think
to receive our praise and thanksgiving,
and our prayers and supplications.
[PAUSE]
The Christian religion
preaches the truth
that God is always with us
which is why Our Lord Jesus Christ
is the One Whom Isaiah calls
Emmanuel - God with us.
Seven centuries before
the Incarnation,
Jesus is near Isaiah
just as He is near
Abraham, Isaac and Jacob
centuries even before that.
[PAUSE]
And now,
many centuries after,
Jesus is present here for us
to be worshipped
and adored.
He has given us
the sacrifice of the Mass
not only to make His presence
visible to us
but for us to take away with us
in the depths of our hearts.
Our tenth leper
shows us
that we can always
give glory to God
at the feet of Christ
where we are
and that doing so
brings us ever closer to Him
and to our Eternal joy.
