When COVID-19 hit, we did everything we could to avoid catching the virus. We wore masks, and anyone with COVID isolated themselves for up to two weeks or more. Some people had no symptoms, others were isolated in the hospital, and some were in critical care.
People in our Lord’s time experienced the same thing with leprosy, except for one exception: The disease did not last for two weeks, but for life. Limbs would slowly rot away. The stench was horrible and repulsive. More than cut off from society, society considered a leper as already dead.
Mosaic Law forbade anyone from coming into contact with someone with leprosy. What does Jesus do? – He does the unthinkable. Our Lord reaches out and touches the untouchable; so much did he suffer with him. Jesus not only empathizes with the leper, but his compassion offers hope and reassurance that no one is beyond his care.
Incredibly, the leper does not keep Jesus at a distance as the Mosaic Law demanded. Neither could the stench of his dying flesh keep Jesus away, so powerful was Jesus’ compassion for this man.
Jeff Weiner, the former CEO of LinkedIn, said, “Empathy is to see someone suffering under the weight of a burden and respond by putting the same burden on yourself. Compassion is alleviating the person from the burden.” (Compassionate Leadership – How To Do Hard Things In A Human Way, p.55, by Rasmus Hougaard and Jacqueline Carter)
You can’t just sit by and let someone suffer when you love them. The Law is no longer binding when serving the genuine needs of others, reminding us that God’s love surpasses rules and offers safety for those in need.
The leper experienced this journey into the heart of Jesus when he said to the Lord, “If you do so, you can heal me.” He was saying, “I have found my home. I belong. Jesus just accepted me into his world.”
Gospel Challenge:
Is anyone living in isolation from family or friends? Reach out the hand of Jesus to them and let them know they still have a home in your heart. Then your heart becomes the Heart of Jesus.
June 24, 2026, Matthew 7:15-20 https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/062525.cfm False Prophets – Scammers I remember hardly locking our doors during the day when I was a child. Unfortunately,the
Solemnity of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist Luke 1: 57-66, 80 https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/062426-Day I Love It When a Plan Comes Together The A-Team’s television
June 23, 2026, Matthew 7:6,12-14 https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/062326.cfm Who Are My Friends? Imagine receiving a wedding invitation from someone you barely know. You glance at itand set
June 22, 2026, Matthew 7:1-5 https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/062226.cfm Judging is Like Little Splinters. I remember our DRE and music director, Fred, telling me he picked up a
Father Rick’s Two-Minute Homily ~ Friday the 12th Week in Ordinary Time.
June 26, 2026, Matthew 8: 1-4.
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/062626.cfm
Quarantine Is No Fun
When COVID-19 hit, we did everything we could to avoid catching the virus. We wore
masks, and anyone with COVID isolated themselves for up to two weeks or more.
Some people had no symptoms, others were isolated in the hospital, and some were in
critical care.
People in our Lord’s time experienced the same thing with leprosy, except for one
exception: The disease did not last for two weeks, but for life. Limbs would slowly rot
away. The stench was horrible and repulsive. More than cut off from society, society
considered a leper as already dead.
Mosaic Law forbade anyone from coming into contact with someone with leprosy. What
does Jesus do? – He does the unthinkable. Our Lord reaches out and touches the
untouchable; so much did he suffer with him. Jesus not only empathizes with the leper,
but his compassion offers hope and reassurance that no one is beyond his care.
Incredibly, the leper does not keep Jesus at a distance as the Mosaic Law demanded.
Neither could the stench of his dying flesh keep Jesus away, so powerful was Jesus’
compassion for this man.
Jeff Weiner, the former CEO of LinkedIn, said, “Empathy is to see someone suffering
under the weight of a burden and respond by putting the same burden on yourself.
Compassion is alleviating the person from the burden.” (Compassionate Leadership – How To
Do Hard Things In A Human Way, p.55, by Rasmus Hougaard and Jacqueline Carter)
You can’t just sit by and let someone suffer when you love them. The Law is no longer
binding when serving the genuine needs of others, reminding us that God’s love
surpasses rules and offers safety for those in need.
The leper experienced this journey into the heart of Jesus when he said to the Lord, “If
you do so, you can heal me.” He was saying, “I have found my home. I belong. Jesus
just accepted me into his world.”
Gospel Challenge:
Is anyone living in isolation from family or friends? Reach out the hand of Jesus to them
and let them know they still have a home in your heart. Then your heart becomes the
Heart of Jesus.
Love Your Neighbor!
Fr. Rick Pilger, IC
www.bscchurch.com
www.rosminians.com
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