Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

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The Touch of Compassion
Mark 1:40-45

“A man with leprosy came to him and begged him on his knees, “If you are willing, you can make me clean.” (1:40)
All the miracles performed by Jesus are responses of compassion towards the struggles of the people in their dire need and distress. For Jesus, compassion is far more than an emotional feeling or sympathy. It is a strong concern for the sufferings and misfortunes of others leading him to take positive and creative actions, which make a substantial qualitative difference in the life of the other. In the given passage we read -“filled with compassion, Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man” (verse 41).

Compassion as Understanding: Understanding the situation of the person who is in pain is primary to compassion. The mental agony of the leper is more severe than his physical ailment. He is alienated from the mainstream of the society and considered outcast in that ritualistic society.  He approaches Jesus, fully convinced that Jesus is the person who can understand his situation and heal him. That is why he says, “ If you are willing, you can make me clean”. The swift response of Jesus “I am willing, be clean” shows his ability to understand the intensity of the leper’s pain and agony.  “Jesus reached out his hand and touched him”. This is a powerful expression of Jesus’ identification with the man in the most vulnerable situation. One of the chief characteristics of leprosy is losing of sensitivity.  This worst disease infects us, if we lose our sensitivity and fail to understand the suffering and miseries of the weaker and the hapless sections of the society.

Compassion as Acceptance:  Rejection is painful. The person affected by this disease was alienated from the community as he/she may contaminate others with ritual impurity. Therefore in those days they were expected to act in a way that indicated their situation, such as dress in torn clothing and warn others not to come too close (Lev 13:45). In such a situation what is needed is acceptance by the community. When Jesus asked the man to be certified by the priest as a testimony to the community what he intended was acceptance by the society.
Today leprosy is completely curable but the attitude towards such patients has not considerably been changed. We may no longer confine persons with communicable diseases to isolation, but the subtle forms of social isolation we practice can be just as devastating. Persons battling such illness as AIDS and cancer need most the human contact of a hug, a hand to hold, or a pat on the back and thereby the acceptance of the community.

Prayer: Lord, help us to change our attitude, which discriminate and alienate people. Enable us to experience your healing and be the agents of your healing ministry. Amen
 Rev. Joseph Johny, St. Thomas MTC, NY.
 Rev. Joseph Johny, St. Thomas MTC, NY.


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