CLEANSED

INTRODUCTION

Instead of a homily today, I wrote a short poetic meditation or reflection – based on the two readings for today, the 3rd Monday in Lent. In the first reading we heard the story about Naaman – the army commander – who has leprosy – and a young girl captured in Samaria and made a servant of Naaman's wife. She had a thought and expressed it, “If only Naaman went to where I come from in Samaria, I’m sure the prophet, Elisha, would heal him of his leprosy.” He goes – and is healed – but after some twists and turns in the story. And in today’s gospel Jesus refers to that story about Naaman the Syrian that is in 2nd Kings. Jesus says, “Here I am in your midst – and you don’t recognize me. I can heal you. I can cleanse you.” They reject Jesus – unfortunately.

So a poetic reflection or meditation called, “Cleansed.”

CLEANSED

Sitting there, standing there, some people still
feel sordid here – sinful here – unclean – as
if the skin of their soul had splotches, blotches,
scars and marks as well as written remarks –
on the palms of their hands – reminders –
bad memories – bad mistakes –
that they can’t silence – can’t erase.

That dumb move – that sin – that dumb relationship –
those wrong words – that family mess -
that they feel they caused – just yesterday, last year,
or so, so many years ago. Mess. Mess. Messy.

They come to Mass. They come to confession.
They do a hundred things to try to erase

or to buy off the mistake,
but right in their midst is Jesus – everyday Jesus –
the one who can cleanse them – heal them –
make the inner skin of their soul brand new skin –
like the glistening skin of a new born baby.

But no, they don’t know this Jesus who heals.
Instead they keep him outside the church
of their soul – or dump him out of their lives like
some people dump dying or dead cigarettes
out the window of their car –
and then they drive away –
as if they hadn’t been to church at all.

But Jesus rises from these rejections every time.
He still hangs around churches. He slips into ears
as words of challenge or into people’s souls
as bread and sips of wine. He still appears as
other broken people and sometimes we see him
as we help someone else and we are healed.

And the rest of us – Oh let’s hope
we’re like that young servant girl
who whispered to someone,
“If only he or she went to see the Prophet.
If they do, they can be healed.”

© Andy Costello, Reflections, 2010 - 3 Monday Lent