Pope Francis invites the faithful to overcome prejudice and the fear of getting involved in the lives of others, and to follow the example of Jesus who shares our wounds and heals our lives.
By Linda Bordoni
Reflecting on the Gospel Reading of the Day (Mk 1: 40-45), Pope Francis spoke of how the Lord approached us, breaking every barrier and touching our lives to heal them.
During the Sunday Angelus in St. Peter’s Square, the Pope recalled the day’s Gospel reading, which tells of the meeting between Jesus and the sick man who had leprosy.
He noted that lepers were considered unclean and, according to the regulations of the law, were marginalized and excluded from any human, social and religious relationship.
But Jesus, the Pope said, allowed the man to approach Him, even to the point of reaching out and touching him.
This is how He fulfills the good news He proclaims: God came closer to our lives, He is moved to compassion for the plight of wounded humanity and comes to break every barrier that keeps us from being in relationship with Him, with others and ourselves, ”said the Pope.
Two “violations”
Pope Francis explained that in this episode the apostle highlights two “transgressions”:
“The first transgression is that of the leper,” he said, “coming out of isolation despite the precepts of the law and going to Jesus.”
He explained that the man’s illness was viewed as divine punishment, but “in Jesus he can see another aspect of God: not the God who punishes, but the Father of compassion and love who sets us free from sin and never excludes. of his grace. “
The sick man, the Pope continued, can come out of his isolation because he finds in Jesus God who shares his pain.
“The second transgression is that of Jesus: Though the law forbade the touching of lepers, he is troubled, stretches out his hand and touches him to heal him. He does not limit himself to words, but touches him ”, he explained.
To touch with love, continued Pope Francis, means “to enter into a relationship, to engage in communion, to become involved in the life of another person, even to the point of sharing their wounds.”
With that gesture, he said, Jesus reveals that God is not indifferent, does not keep himself “at a safe distance”: “He approaches out of compassion and touches our lives to heal it with tenderness.”
This, said the Pope, “is God’s ‘style’: closeness, compassion, and tenderness: the ‘transgression’ of God. In that sense He is a great transgressor.”
Don’t be afraid of “contamination”
The Pope condemned the fact that in the world today so many of our brothers and sisters are marginalized and excluded because of social stigmas, and the Pope invited the faithful to break through these barriers and become involved in their lives.
He said that Jesus tells us that God is “not an idea or an abstract doctrine, but the One who is pollutes Even with our human injuries and is not afraid to come into contact with our wounds. The Pope urged Christians to go beyond selfishness, calculations or fears that keep them from getting involved in the suffering of others.
Instead, he said, we must ask the Lord for the grace to find the courage to come out of our isolation and self-deception and open our hearts to “ a love that goes beyond convention, that overcomes prejudice and the fear of getting involved in the lives of others. ”
Pope Francis concluded, “Let’s learn to be ‘transgressors’ like these two: like the leper and like Jesus.”