Homily: Feast of Pope Leo the Great
Feast of Pope Leo the Great (Luke 17:11-19) “Misery Loves Company”
My parents lived in an assisted living facility for several years in my home city. In that facility, were people from all parts of the economic spectrum. My mother was uncomfortable because she had never socialized with the people who were “important” in town. She felt like she might not fit in. My sister reassured her and said, “When people reach your stage in life everyone is in the same boat.” What she was saying was that all elderly people need the same types of assistance. At a certain point our common humanity shows itself and pretense is forgotten.
There was a great animosity between Jews and Samaritans in Biblical time. Both races believed in the same God, but they worshipped in different places and some of their religious practices were not the same.
We notice that the lepers who came to Jesus for healing were traveling together. There were a mixture of Jews and Samaritans. Once someone contracted leprosy, they were declared dead and were sent to live in a leper colony, usually located in an isolated location. The differences that people had before they became ill were forgotten. The only identity a person had was that they were a leper.
When Jesus healed the 10 lepers, he restored them to society. We can imagine them going back to the old way of life. That life included racial prejudice. The man who came back to thank Jesus was a Samaritan. He was supposed to dislike Jesus the Jew. But he only saw Jesus, the man who cured him. He only felt gratitude towards Jesus. All animosity was forgotten.
All of this can be a lesson for us. Do we hold on to differences between us and others or do we look for similarities? Jesus looks at everyone. All he sees is people made in the image and likeness of God.
Reflection Questions:
- Leprosy is a sickness. Prejudice is a sickness. Which is the more serious illness?
- Do I feel inferior too because of my background? Do I look down on someone because of where they came from?
Dear Parishioners,
Today is Msgr. Wellman’s birthday. He has served the diocese a long time and still substitutes for many of the priests in his retirement. Please pray for his health and that he have many more happy years. Msgr. Wellman lives in a house in Port Byron, Illinois.
His address is:
24600 94th Avenue N.
Port Byron, IL. 61275
Also remember Msgr. Jim Swaner who passed away this past week. His last assignment was in Utica, Illinois. He was 85 years old. He was a priest for 60 years. We give thanks for all the clergy who have served our diocese with unselfish devotion.
May our Lady and all the Angels and Saints watch over you today.
Fr. Mark