Pope Francis invites the faithful to overcome prejudice and fear to get 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 evangelical reading of the day (Mc 1: 40-45), Pope Francis spoke of how the Lord approached us, broke down all barriers, and touched our lives to heal them.
In statements during Sunday Angelus in St. Peter’s Square, the Pope recalled the reading of the Gospel of the day, which explains the encounter between Jesus and the sick man who had leprosy.
He noted that lepers were considered unclean and, according to the prescriptions of the Law, were marginalized and excluded from all human, social and religious relations.
But Jesus, the Pope said, allowed the man to approach him, 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, moved by compassion for the fate of wounded humanity, and came to break down all the barriers that prevent us from being in relationship with Him, with others. and with ourselves, ”the Pope said.
Two “transgressions”
Pope Francis explained that in this episode, the apostle highlights two “transgressions”:
“The first transgression is that of the leper,” he said, who “in spite of the prescriptions of the Law, comes out of his isolation and goes to Jesus.”
He explained that man’s illness was considered a divine punishment, but, “in Jesus, he is able to see another aspect of God: not the God who punishes, but the Father of compassion and love who loves us. he frees us from sin and never excludes us from his mercy. “
The sick, the Pope continued, is thus able to come out of his isolation because in Jesus he finds God who shares his pain.
“The second transgression is that of Jesus: although the Law forbade touching the lepers, he was moved, stretched out his hand, and touched him to heal him. It is not limited to words, but touches it “, he explained.
Touching with love, Pope Francis continued, means “establishing a relationship, entering into communion, getting involved in another person’s life to the point of sharing their wounds.”
With this gesture, he said, Jesus reveals that God is not indifferent, he does not keep a “safe distance”: “He comes with compassion and touches our lives to heal it with tenderness.”
This, according to the Pope, “is” the style “of God: closeness, compassion and tenderness: the” transgression “of God. In this sense, he is a great transgressor.”
Don’t be afraid of “pollution”
Denouncing the fact that in today’s world, many of our brothers and sisters suffer marginalization and exclusion due to social stigmas, the Pope invited the faithful to break down these barriers and get involved with their lives.
He said that Jesus tells us that God “is not an abstract idea or doctrine but one that contaminates He himself with our human wounds and is not afraid to come into contact with our wounds. ”The Pope urged Christians to go beyond selfishness, calculations or fears that prevent them from engaging in sufferings of others.
Instead, he said, we ask the Lord for the grace to find the courage to come out of our isolation and self-commitment, and open our hearts to “a love that goes beyond conventions, that transcends prejudice and fear. to participate in the lives of others. ”
Pope Francis concluded: “We learn to be ‘transgressors’ like these two: like the leper and like Jesus.”