-
October 12, 2025“As Jesus was entering a village, ten lepers met him. They stood at a distance from him.”As defined by the World Health Organization, leprosy, also known as Hansen disease, is a chronic infectious disease caused mainly by a type of a certain bacteria. It affects the skin, the peripheral nerves, the upper respiratory tract and the eyes. Apart from the physical deformity, persons affected by leprosy and complete isolation from society. It is transmitted through inhalation of droplets from the nose and mouth of an untreated case of leprosy, following prolonged, close contact. Contrary to misguided fears, it does not spread through casual contact: shaking hands or hugging, sharing meals, or sitting next to a person affected with the disease. To note: leprosy is curable with treatment in the early stages. Though nearly eradicated, leprosy still persists in certain countries. “Leprosy”or “leper”appears 68 times in scripture, the majority of which in the Old Testament (often in reference to a skin disease or rash). Possibly the direct inference of ‘lepers’in scripture is God’s way of calling our attention to those we have judged unjustly as Umberto Uno suggests:Over the centuries, as [rulers] tore each other apart in their quarrels over power, the excluded went on living on the fringe, like lepers, of whom true lepers are only the illustration ordained by God to make us understand this wondrous parable, so that in saying 'lepers' we would understand 'outcast, poor, simple, excluded, uprooted from the countryside, humiliated in the cities. Mother Teresa who worked amongst the poorest of the poor—outcasts but beloved by God—challenges us as Christians:“I try to give to the poor people for love what the rich could get for money. No, I wouldn't touch a leper for a thousand pounds; yet I willingly cure him for the love of God.”In the later half of the nineteenth century the then sovereign country of Hawaii enacted a law, permanently segregating any person who suffered the disease of leprosy. They were ‘banished’if you will to the leper colony on an isolated peninsula of Molokai island. Over the next century nearly 8,000 individuals were sent there, permanently. Native Hawaiians called the disease, ma'i ho'oka'awale‘ohana, “the sickness that separates family.”It was to this isolated area that Fr. Damien would soon answer God’s call to minister to these individuals isolated on this barren peninsula. Fr. Damien was born in Belgium, 1840, entered the same religious order as his brother, and followed him to Hawaii, serving as a missionary to the native people. Having arrived on the island in 1864 and later ordained a priest that same year, his work was important but not yet fulfilled. In 1873 he requested to serve those afflicted with leprosy on the island of Molokai. There he established a parish—St. Philomena— built a church which still stands today, andrestored order and a sense of dignity and purpose to those who would inhabit that isolated area until their deaths .After contracting the disease Fr. Damien died in 1889, and as wished, buried on the island, next to the many other graves. He was canonized by Pope Francis in 2009, patron saint of those with leprosy and outcasts; his feast day is May 10th.Saint Damien of Molokai, God’s servant to the outcasts, you have shown great compassion to all those in need. Help us to have the same compassion for the ignored, the alienated, the forgotten.Through your intercession, may we have the faith to love without boundaries so we may see Jesus in all whom we meet, just as you did with the people of Molokai Hawaii.In Jesus name I pray who is both human and Divine.Amen.In our gospel passage—the passage traditionally assigned to Thanksgiving Day Liturgy—describes the personal quest of the one who acknowledged the gift of healing and returned to offer gratitude.As one Christian author surmised, ten lepers were physically healed, but only one gained an additional healing: a spiritual healing of his heart. Of the numerous blessings God has bestowed upon us (family, faith, shelter & provisions, friendships, freedoms, wellbeing, nature, etc.) which do we take most for granted? With faith as our guide, what do I consistently complain about or choose to see negatively—which needs to be healed?
God Bless, Fr.Tim
FYI:“The wound is the place where the Light enters you.”(Rumi, 13th century poet)