DAMIEN OF MOLOKAI

GOSPEL  READING

A Reading from the Gospel of Luke 17: 11-19

In the course of his journey to Jerusalem he was travelling through the borderlands of Samaria and Galilee. As he was entering a village he was  met by ten men with leprosy. They stood some way off and called out to him, “Jesus, Master, take pity on us.”

When he saw them he said, “Go and show yourselves to the priests”; and while they were on their way, they were made clean. 

One of them, finding himself cured, turned back praising God aloud. He threw himself down at Jesus's feet and thanked him. And he was a Samaritan.

At this Jesus said: “Were not all ten cleansed? The other nine, where are they? Could none be found to come back and give praise to God except this foreigner?”

And he said to the man, “Stand up and go on your way; your faith has cured you.”

INTRODUCTION

Today we celebrate the feast of Damien of Molokai. His dates were 1840- 1889.

He is famous for his work with folks who have Leprosy or Hansen’s disease. He did that full time from 1873-1889. That’s 16 years. 

He died at the age of 49 - having contracted the disease as well. I  didn’t know he was that young when he died. St. Vincent de Paul was 79 and Mother Teresa was 87 when they died. Well he packed into those 49 years - lots of love - and lots of service for God’s people.

He wasn’t stupid. On the other hand he wasn’t the smartest in his class - but who knows if he had the chance for better educational opportunities? 

He was just one strong Belgian who gave his life for the folks of Hawaii - first putting in regular priestly work around Honolulu - from 1864-1873.

I get the impression from reading a bunch of things about him last night - that he was a gruff - strong - hard working - farmer type priest.

He wasn’t scared to get his hands dirty and do for others.

He ended up becoming world famous - perhaps because of reports about him working with those who had leprosy - were heard by folks who stopped into Hawaii - while sailing around the world.

Then there were complaints that the natives and others with whom he worked with didn’t get enough credit. That seems true - but it wasn’t because he was self-promoting. He and others were doing a job that could be quite difficult. In another sense there is the old saying, “Work goes smoothly if everyone worries about the work and not who gets the credit.”

STAGE PLAY

When I was in the seminary in my second year of college, I got to  direct a 3 act play. It was a great opportunity - but instead of giving me a comedy - the only kinds of plays that I had acted in - in my earlier years - I got this serious play to direct - the life of Father  Damien of Molokai. It was long, serious, and had about 21 scenes.  It wasn’t a flop. Nor was it a big success.  A priest named Frank Browne had the lead - playing Father Damien and Max Pauli - whom many here in St. Mary's remember - he played the part of very “yes sir, no sir” right hand servant for Damien.

What I got out of it, besides the experience of directing a 3 act play, was a growing awareness of the Saint:  Damien of Molokai.

PATRON SAINT OF WHAT?

To really make it as a saint, it helps to be the patron saint of some basic issue or theme or need in life.

Like being Patron Saint of Lost Car Keys or what have you. Like being patron saint of those who travel  or the one you pray to with great perseverance for lost kids to come back  to the faith - like praying to St. Monica - who prayed that her son Augustine would come home to Christ.

Damian could be considered the Patron Saint of those who work with the tough cases in life. He could be the Patron Saint of those whose motto could be People with Leprosy Matter.

His life could be a poster with the words: “Don’t reject; do respect.”

People who were working with those who had AIDS did bring Damien into that story.  

Today we could add Transgender Folks. We could pray to him for all folks whom others don’t want to touch or to welcome to the family or church table.

That’s St. Damien of Molokai.

When I see pictures of where he lived and served in Molokai, I see places and scenes that don’t look like those beautiful brochures of the beaches of Hawaii. Amen.