WHOLENESS AND THE
COMPASSION OF GOD
The Rev. Harold Shepherd, CD, M.A., S.T.M., LL.B., LL.M.,
Ph.D.
Sermon from February 16, 2003
A leper came to Jesus begging him,
and kneeling he said to him, “If you chose, you can
make me clean.” Moved with pity, Jesus stretched out
his hand and touched him, and said to him, “I do
choose. Be made clean!” Immediately the leprosy left
him, and he was made clean. MARK
1:40-45
Leprosy in the ancient world was more than a skin disease.
It marked one’s place in society. Because of the fear
that it may be contagious, and given its disfiguring
effects, leprosy stigmatised the sufferer. Those with skin
diseases were prohibited from entering the Temple
enclosure. They would often be ostracized by others and
forced to live in leper colonies. Although the leprosy of
the Bible is not the same disease as contemporary leprosy,
it did refer to any repulsive scaly skin disease. Because
of its visible nature, it was a disease with serious social
implications. Today we also have diseases that carry social
stigmas. For example, those suffering from AIDS are often
treated as social outcasts because of the way some people
have contracted it. People with psychiatric illnesses are
often not treated with as much understanding as those who,
for example, are born with a disability. Some diseases tend
to illicit more of a compassionate response than others,
especially those that are self-inflicted. People with
physical disabilities face challenges in fully
participating in our society. Barriers can be both physical
and psychological. Lack of self-confidence and self-esteem
can lead to people withdrawing into themselves and no
longer making an effort to connect with others. People can
become marginalized for a wide range of physical, emotional
and psychological reasons. People who are physically
healthy may find themselves trapped behind barriers that
have been erected between themselves and the world due to
various psychological issues.
The leper in Mark’s Gospel wanted badly to
reintegrate into society. In desperation, he threw himself
at Jesus’ feet and begged him for a healing. He was
convinced that, if Jesus wanted to, he could heal him. He
recognized that he could not achieve this himself. He
needed God’s help. This is a basic principle in
Alcoholics Anonymous. One must first recognize the problem.
Second, one must want to put an end to it. And third, one
must recognize the need for the assistance of a higher
power. One can add that the leper had tremendous faith that
God could effect the healing through Jesus, if he wanted to
do this. We sometimes wonder how a loving God can permit
suffering to exist in the world. While trapped behind
physical and psychological barriers, we ask whether God
really cares. Jesus’ response does not leave room for
doubt. Jesus replies: “I do choose. Be made
clean!” The answer is simple. God wants us to be
whole. The problem is that often we refuse to cooperate
with him in the healing process. We become comfortable with
our vices, dependencies, prejudices, hatreds, vengeance and
the like. We refuse to let go and let God heal our minds
and bodies. The problem is not that God doesn’t care,
but that we become comfortable on the margins. It is much
easier criticise and attempt to tear down than it is to
roll up one’s sleeves and begin to build. Trying to
destroy other people can give us a rush of adrenalin and a
feeling of being alive. Unfortunately, this will only
increase one’s sense of marginalization. Jesus wants
to make us whole. How can we co-operate with him to make
this happen? First, we can let go of the resentment and
ill-will we may feel towards others. Second, we can accept
ourselves as we are, with all of our physical, emotional,
psychological and social limitations. We can stop trying to
be someone we are not. We can learn to be content with the
gifts and limitations that we have received. We can try to
balance our life between family, work, Church, hobbies,
physical exercise, volunteer service, prayer, study and
entertainment. We can learn to manage stress effectively
through a balanced lifestyle and trust in God. We can learn
to enjoy the company of others and accept them as they are.
God did not create others to meet all of our expectations
or to serve our emotional needs. As those created in
God’s image, they are entitled to unconditional
acceptance and love. Jesus told the leper that he wanted to
make him whole. Let Jesus make us whole.