subject: The Lepers! Do we even see them [print this page] The Lepers! Do we even see them The Lepers! Do we even see them
The Lepers
Do we, as people living in a multicultural society in South Africa, afford the "Lepers" in this country the dignity which they are starving for and deserve because it is their right as human beings?
"Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met him. They stood at a distance and called out in a loud voice, "Jesus, Master, have pity onus!" When he saw them, he said, "Go, show yourselves to the priests." And as they went, they were cleansed."
These were men who weren't naked, but naked in terms of their dignity. Cast out from society, seen as "untouchables" and people who were even unworthy of love. In that moment He gave the lepers the dignity that they deserved.
Not because they were lepers.
Not because they were beggars.
Not because they were poor.
Simply because they were human beings who needed the dignity of knowing that they deserved love as much as any other human being.
Who are the lepers in your own life? Who are the people who are naked? The people that, no one else will embrace? The people that everyone has cast out because, they somehow have offended their sensibilities. They may not be actual lepers but they may be unclean because they are suffering from an illness that makes them unacceptable to others. Maybe it is an addiction, a mental illness, perhaps they suffer from a disorder that makes it difficult for them to interact with others socially, old age, disability or HIV AIDS related.
They may not be beggars but they may be begging for attention. Not an unhealthy attention, but perhaps the basic attention from another person that you and I get every single day of our lives from the people we know and love. Perhaps they don't have that support system.
They may not be homeless, but it may feel like that when they get home. The loneliness may be overwhelming.
We need to clothe them and to give them dignity. It would be a shame if we continued to let those opportunities pass us by. Thank you, Lord, for compassion and the ability to give of ourselves, to those in need.
