6th Sunday Ordinary Time (B) 11 February 2024 Inclusion
It is not a nice thing to be excluded from communities where we would like to be included; to be victims of prejudice or bullying. Somehow, just not one of the gang.
Jesus can heal that sense of exclusion as well as He can heal our physical complaints. The ‘leper’ is restored to his community. Physical healing symbolises the spiritual healing which restores our relationship with God. Sin moves us away from God, and sometimes a long way. Repentance will bring us back.
God does not want anyone to be excluded; He came to save sinners (1 Tim 1,15). He came that they might have life, and have it to the full (Jn 10,10).
For Him and for us, the Church is the ultimate society to which we need to belong. The Church is God's family, and where all of us become one family. We are made one in Christ, brothers and sisters with each other, whatever other relationships we may have.
Salvation amounts to this: that we are saved if part of God's family (the Church), and unsaved if not – always with the door open for any person to enter, or re-enter.
We may not be able to heal physical illness, but it is always possible to heal the spiritual illness of being separate from God.
On this World Day of the Sick, as we pray for all forms of sickness, we give special priority to the spiritual ‘leprosy’, whereby whatever separates a person from God and the Church can be rectified.
We all belong in God's family, even if rejected from other places. Family is one place where they have to take you back! So is the Church, insofar as we must be prepared to welcome sinners. I have come for the sick not the healthy (Mk 2,17).
Many would say that they do not need God or the Church; they have enough human support already. No matter how happy we might be with human love and friendship we still need the divine connection. Our hearts are made to rest in God (cf St Augustine)
Others might say that the Church as they have experienced it, is not welcoming. We must be charitable to all and at all times. Charity means that any differences can be handled in concern for each other’s soul - and under the umbrella of Church teaching, which connects us with Our Lord.
We go to Jesus as the leper did and submitting to whatever He wants us to do. Jesus wants to save us to the point of complete unity with His will.
This is what makes Heaven heaven; everyone agrees with Christ, and therefore with each other.
Does the Church reject anyone? No, we want to help everyone get to where they need to be with God. For some a measure of repentance or instruction may be required, but they are not being excluded. We rejoice with all heaven (Lk15,7) when a sinner repents or when a prodigal son returns. (Lk 15, 11-32).
Unity with each other will emerge as we each draw closer to God. Then we find what is likeable about each person, even people whom we would have found it hard to like.
We welcome all who want to find life, just as the Lord let all come to Him; and they were so numerous the doors and windows were blocked. Cf when they had to lower the man through the roof (Mk 2,3-11).
Jesus is the leper Himself insofar as He is rejected. In which case we need to let Him back in – to His own family, He came to His own but His own did not receive Him (Jn 1,11). We must reverse that rejection.
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