Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time 'B'

Saturday February 11, 2006

Quarantined from God?

On the front door hung a small poster with red lettering: “Quarantined.” I was in third grade and down with the 21 day Measles. It was a particularly bad case and I lost three weeks of school. Being the youngest in the class and a slow learner, I don’t think I ever caught up — even to this day!

I recall looking out from the screened-in porch at my friends playing in the street. I had to keep my distance and they were not permitted to enter the contaminated zone that had become an invisible shield and a moat around our home.

It’s not really a terrible memory and I suffered no long-range psychological damage — of which I am aware; you might be the better judge. My family coped well with our childhood illnesses. Oddly enough, my sister never contracted the disease and I never caught her mumps, thanks to the sterilizing techniques of my mother and father. They were scrupulous about cleanliness!

Times have changed and with them progress in medicine and medical treatment making quarantine zones less necessary. Thank God for antibiotics! However, viruses and bacteria have also multiplied and progressed to the point that we do need to take necessary precautions against infectious diseases that can invade our bodies with little or no notice.

During the early stages of the AIDS epidemic, I was asked to visit a patient who had been diagnosed HIV positive. Naturally, I responded with a compliant and sensitive, “Yes, of course I’ll come.” But I must tell you that my pastoral bravado disappeared very quickly when I entered the ‘no-fly’ zone in the hospital. All sorts of thoughts crossed my mind as I entered the ‘space capsule’ in the isolation unit. The patient was on a respirator but conscious and alert. I wondered to myself, “Is the virus air borne? What will happen if I anoint him? What will people think if I contract the illness? ” These are thoughts I confess now with not a little embarrassment.

In any event, we have come a long way in our understanding of this dread disease but victims still fall prey to insensitive comments and cruel epithets.

In fact, some viral infections and bacteria have mutated to new forms against which there are no antidotes. And now the fear of bacterial invasion from foreign soil has increased the anxiety index significantly with the bird flu. Unfortunately, duct tape and plastic shields will not work.

This whole talk of disease and bacterial invasion from whatever source is unnerving and tends to caste a shadow over the optimism of a believer and cloud our trust in the basic goodness of humanity. It can even break our confidence in an all-loving God.

The Book of Leviticus describes for us this weekend how people in biblical times dealt with the fears, taboos and dangers surrounding contagious diseases. The Levitical regulations represented the codified wisdom and customs of many generations. The diseases themselves were considered a sign not only of physical contagion but also of spiritual impurity. Victims of skin disorders like Leprosy were ousted from the community not only because of contagion but also because of spiritual defilement.

This is the context in which Mark describes Jesus’ encounter with the Leper. In all likelihood, the disease was not what we recognize as Hansen’s disease, but whatever its nature, it was considered a curse from God. The victim was ostracized — we know all the epithets that were hurled at them and the alert that they themselves were to sound as people came near, “Unclean, unclean!”

Not only did Jesus enter the contaminated zone, but also he touched the leper, lifting the curse that isolated the man from everyone and that alienated him from his very self.

Mind you, the entire Gospel of Mark is a proclamation and a proof of Jesus messianic role and of his relationship with God as “Son of God.” Already in the first sentence of the first chapter of Mark’s gospel we read: “The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the ‘Son of God.’” And later in the same chapter at the baptism of Jesus, “And a voice came from heaven, ‘You are my Son, the Beloved…’” and in chapter 15, verse 39: “Now when the centurion, who stood facing him, saw that in this way he breathed his last, he said, ‘Truly this man was God’s son!’”

So this is the way God’s son acts. He enters contaminated zones, heals infectious diseases and casts out demons. This last phrase is very important in Mark’s gospel and suggests to us that Jesus’ mission is not just about physical healing but about the healing of the soul — the hidden self, the sinner that exists in everyone. In chapter seven verse fourteen we read Jesus’ words: “Listen to me, all of you, and understand: it is not what passes through the mouth of a person that can defile, but the things that come out are what defiles.” In other words, the disease of the soul is what truly defiles humanity. “Fear not those who can destroy the body. Rather fear those who can kill the soul casting it into Gehenna.”

The real question in today’s world is how do we balance justice and compassion?

In a world contaminated by hatred, the disciple of Christ is challenged as never before to respond to evil with courage and tenacity. In a Church afflicted by continuing plague of abuse and the absence of transparency in dealing openly with it by Church authorities, the assembly is challenged as never before to demand greater integrity of our bishops and pastors.

There has been a cancer in our Church for several years and it will not be cured by official communiqués by public relations officers or exculpatory statements amounting to subterfuge and a whitewash.

The recent headlines about a trusted priest who succumbed to violence and sexual abuse under the influence of alcohol are not helpful to instilling confidence among the faithful, especially when diocesan authorities were warned of his behavior years ago and as recently as three years ago with no response from diocesan authorities. For the perpetrators of abuse to hold themselves excused because of their dependence on alcohol is also not helpful.

Our Church has been heavy on the sins of lay folks by not admitting divorced Catholics who have freed themselves from an intolerable marriage to the Eucharist table without an ecclesiastical annulment even when the previous marriage is long past and the annulment process rendered impossible by prudent canonical and spiritual advisors. Divorced Catholics are also considered ‘unqualified’ for certain positions of responsibility in the Church. Oddly enough, divorced Catholics are never excluded from fundraising campaigns and have been known to be quite generous to the Church.

It has also labeled ‘disordered’ homosexually oriented persons who though convinced in mind and soul that their orientation was determined by God at their birth and has forbidden Eucharist to those in committed relationships.

It has ruled immoral, artificial birth control, the ordination of married priests except in cases of non-Catholic clergy who have renounced their former tradition to join the Roman Catholic Church in which case, they are re-ordained without having to renounce their marriage vows.

Discrimination against women continues renders more than half of our Church community ‘legally’ sacramentally impotent to stand in the person of Christ at Eucharist and in the celebration of the other sacraments.

On the other hand, the Church has been light on the sins of the clergy, rendering them excusable in the light of the need for more celibate vocations and will overlook even sexual misconduct as long as victims have exceeded the minimum legal age under the norms of the Dallas Charter and Church law.

There is little doubt in my mind that the words of Jesus are applicable: “The scribes and the Pharisees have taken their seat on the chair of Moses. Therefore, do and observe all things whatsoever they tell you, but do not follow their example, for they preach but they do not practice. They tie up heavy burdens [hard to carry] and lay them on people’s shoulders, but they will not lift a finger to move them. All their works are performed to be seen. They widen their phylacteries and lengthen their tassels. They love places of honor at banquets, seats of honor in synagogues, greetings in the marketplaces, and the salutation ‘Rabbi.’ As for you do not be called ‘Rabbi.’ You have but one teacher, and you are all brothers [and sisters]. Call no one on earth your father; you have but one Father in heaven. Do not be called ‘Master’; you have but one master, the Messiah. The greatest among you must be your servant. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled; but whoever humbles himself will be exalted. ” … And there’s more in Matt 23:1336.

Jesus also decries the abuse of children in Matt 18:6-9 – “Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to fall, it would be better for him to have a great millstone hung around his neck and to be thrown into the sea.” But children are not the only helpless ones to which this text can be attributed. There are many vulnerable adults who have been subjected to harsh abuse by the powerful – clergy, politicians, highly paid executives and numerous others among the ‘high ruling class’ who hold others subservient to their whims and proclivities.

In the face of double talk and subterfuge from religious leaders, it is difficult for the preacher to avoid coming to the conclusion that truth is becoming a precious commodity even among the noble.

It is time to bring the curtain down on ecclesiastical hypocrisy!

But how do we balance the harsh judgment of Jesus with his mercy and compassion? The words of the psalmist come to mind, “Love and truth will meet; justice and peace will kiss.”

Forbidden zones must be entered heal victims of abuse. Those who afflict those wounds must be held accountable but they too must be helped to heal. Justice excludes neither accountability nor mercy.

Several years ago in the midst of the explosive revelations in Boston and in St. Joseph in Mendham, I adopted this mantra:

“There can be no healing and forgiveness without justice; no justice without the truth; no truth without full accountability.” Time is running out.

There is no duct tape or plastic shield as secure as the soul strength that comes from our complete surrender to God and conformity to the rule of life rooted in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

It has been said that the Word of God is a “double edged sword” that consoles and challenges. Today, it is challenging us and if we accept the challenge, we can be sure that consolation will follow.

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