Summary of a Fr. Gerry Creedon homily from February 12, 2006
"Moved
with compassion, he stretched out his hand and touched him." Mark 1:41
I AWOKE THIS MORNING TO SEE snow on the trees and a half-foot of snow on the flowerpots.
I thought, "There goes the Sunday Collection and the Haiti Carnaval." How can we promote this urgently needed event, if no one is in church! I had Haiti especially in mind having returned last week from the Haitian Border with the Dominican Republic.
The bishop of our sister diocese San Juan de la Maguana led Bishop Loverde and our visiting team to his cathedral for Sunday evening Mass. He took the long way there through the poor barrios of the city, driving his jeep over gutters and sewer pipes, pointing out the work of the neighborhood faith communities: a pharmacy, a shelter, new homes. One of our team wondered if Bishop Jose had any worries about security going through these sections of town. His answer stays with me: "Mi hermana, esta ciudad es una casa". (My sister, this city is a household). There is no reason to be afraid when you are with your family. Bishop Jose Grullon lives out a preferential option for the poor.
Poor people are often seen as a threat. This may be especially true if they are Haitian. The prevalence of AIDS, the dreaded disease, may be another factor in our differential treatment of Haitian immigrants.
Today's gospel spells out Jesus attitude to the "Untouchables" of his time, the lepers. The religious taboo against touching a leper was possibly based on the fear of contagion. Moses prescribed their excommunication. Jesus touches, heals, and grants acceptance. He himself takes the place of the victim outside the city gates, where he ended up among criminals.
There are two different religious attitudes reflected in the scriptures: Moses excludes, Jesus includes.
We each have to choose which attitude we will adopt.
Who are the untouchables today: AIDS patients, people with a different sexual orientation...? Add your own fears to the list.
Will we exclude, or will we reach out the hand of acceptance?