The associated reading for this reflection can be found in your Every Sacred Sunday Mass journal or online here.
Earlier this week, I had the privilege to be on set of the biblically-based TV show, The Chosen. As the director yelled, “that’s a wrap!” and everyone cheered and began to disperse, I felt a strange heart ache. I had just witnessed actor Jonathan Roumie portray Christ in several scenes, and his performance left me transfixed. We shivered in 29 degree weather wearing our 1st century Jewish-style garments. Yet when Jonathan was in character, I could’ve listened to that man for another hour without blinking. I didn’t want it to end. It made me wonder... how much more was and is Jesus - the Incarnate Word of God, Prince of Peace, Lion of Judah - a compelling man to behold?
In today’s Gospel, we see powerful fulfillment of an Old Testament law through Jesus’ ministry. The first reading and the Gospel have similar characters and initial set-ups, but different conclusions. The leper from the first reading is declared too unclean for the Temple and destined to “live alone outside the camp.” However, in the Gospel, Jesus heals a leper, and by doing so, He restored the man’s ability to worship freely in the Temple. Jesus rerouted his destiny. Let us not skim over how eager Christ is to restore him: “I DO will it. Be made clean.” As we soak in these words, do we see the eagerness in His eyes and hear the longing in His voice? Goodness and Beauty Himself speaks. Let us give ourselves permission to feast on Him.
This scene is not far from our present reality. Imagine after the man joyfully skips away, Jesus tenderly watches him and resolves under his breath, “I want this for everyone. This is the Father’s desire. I will make myself available like this for all.” And so He did. He established this process as a Sacrament. Where sin causes sickness and disease of the soul, reconciliation restores us. Like a spiritual insurance policy, Christ ensured that we’d be able to come to Him continuously in our current time and receive the healing that makes us clean.
How easy it is to brush off the sacraments as “basic Catholic 101” rather than lifelines for Christian discipleship. Do we take this sacrament for granted? Do we believe our sinful ways can be transformed? God does not shame us or expect us to become perfect overnight. Even the newly restored man didn’t follow Jesus’ instructions! Jesus loves him all the same.
Let us again approach confession and the upcoming Lenten season with that eager Face in mind. Let us see a God who would let Himself be moved outside to deserted places, so that we can be made clean and enter into full worship.