In the Name of the Father, and of the +
Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
The problem with leprosy is that severs the relationship
between the brain and the body. Judith knew this all too well. She did not
suffer from leprosy, but she did suffer from separation. She also suffered from
various illnesses which turned her own body against her. There is plenty of
physical suffering which results from a stroke, but the most frustrating effect
is the difficulty in communication. The brain knows what to say and how to say
it but the relationship between the brain and the muscles of the mouth is
severed.
The lepers in Luke’s gospel had been severed from their
families, from their community, and from the Temple. They could not go to that
place where God promised to dwell with His people. These outcasts found one
another and formed another, surrogate community, but such a leper colony could
never replace mother, daughter, husband, or brother.
This is one way in which leprosy signifies sin. It separates
us from God and our fellow man. Original sin severs the relationship between
God and man. Manifest sin, those sins we commit in thought, word, and deed, severs
the relationship between neighbors. Sin isolates. Sin divides. Sin hurts you
and everyone around you.
Only the One who is without sin could health this amputation.
The lepers could not go to where God promised to be so God came to them. The
Second Person of the Trinity took on flesh so He could come to man, crossing
the great chasm caused by sin and bringing man Himself.
How is such a miraculous gift given to us? Through death.
Not the death of the flesh. This death is the wage of sin. It is the just
punishment for our sin. Rather, it is by dying in the waters of Holy Baptism.
Christians have nothing to fear in death because you have already died. Your
first death was by drowning. There is now only the portal of death, the closing
of your eyes in sleep.
It is this view of death which causes us to pray, “My soul
longs, yes, even faints for the courts of the Lord; My heart and my flesh cry
out for the living God…Blessed are those who dwell in Your house; They will
still be praising You.”[1]
With these words, the Christian prays for two things. He prays to be in Church.
He longs for the Divine Service. He longs to be in the House of the Lord and to
receive the gifts of God through Word and Sacrament. Blessed are those who
dwell in the Church, for they will praise God day and night.
Secondly, the
Christian prays for the bliss of heaven. The courts of the Lord are in the
presence of the Lord and while God is present everywhere, the Christian longs
to be as close to God as possible. God has come to man in the Incarnation and
now man longs to go to God, not by his own works or merits but by invitation.
Blessed are those who sleep in Christ, for they are already praising God day
and night in nearer proximity to Him.
One day in the bliss of heaven is better than a thousand on
this side of glory. Yet if you have Christ, you have everything. One day in
Christ on this side of glory is better than a thousand in the tents of the
wicked. And, believe it or not, one day in the tents of the wicked is better
than a thousand in hell. Such a day is better because it still provides the
opportunity for repentance. God desires that all men would be saved and be
reunited with their Creator in glory. Jesus died for all men. Jesus came to
save sinners, not those who need no repentance. So long as a man draws breath,
repentance is possible.
Our Lord has promised to be with you even to the end of the
age. He is with you now, even though you cannot see Him with your physical
eyes. This means you are already in His presence. Already being in the presence
of Christ, you have the fullness of Him. You are the light of Christ in the
world. At the same time, the soul of the righteous longs to be closer to
Christ.
When a man goes on a business trip, he remains married to
his wife. The whole time he is gone, if he is a righteous man, he longs to be
closer to his wife. He might have the same feeling each day when he goes to
work, but it is likely less intense. The man is finally at peace when he comes
home to the arms of his beloved wife.
It is the same with the Christian. While we are here, we
long to be with Christ. In death, we are closer to Christ and yet long for the
day when body and soul will be reunited. On the last day, in body and soul, we
will be in the arms of our Beloved. We will also be in the presence of one
another. We will be united in one body and under one head.
Just as the Samaritan leper returned to Christ to give
thanks and praise, so too does the Christian return to the place of her first
death, the Baptismal font, to give thanks and praise to the God who came to
her. Judith has returned to the earth from when man was made in eager
anticipation of the Resurrection, when body and soul will be reunited. Until
that time, she enjoys the bliss of heaven, looking upon the face of the
Anointed and crying out, “O Lord of hosts, Blessed is the man who trusts in
You!”
In + Jesus’ name. Amen.
[1]
Psalm 84:2, 4.
No comments:
Post a Comment