“Believe” is an important word in St. John’s lexicon. It was used nearly 100 times in his Gospel and 9 more times in his first New Testament letter. Of course, John wrote in Greek and our English word may not capture the fullness of John’s meaning, but it still reveals the fact that “believe” is a present tense action verb. The leper in the Gospel, who Matthew describes as “full of leprosy,” believed that Jesus had the power to heal him and he acted on that belief. 

On a deeper level - and John’s writings always have many layers - the leper’s cleansing is a sign intended to point beyond the act itself. Turning water into wine, for example, or raising Lazarus from the tomb is meant to focus our attention more on the Doer rather than the deed. These events, as wonderful and extraordinary as they are, are meant to stir in us, in the words of scripture scholar E.A. Blum (1985), an active, continuous, and vital trust in Jesus. The man in the Gospel did not resign himself to suffering. He desired to be healed and sought out the only Person who could make it happen. 

It is the same Jesus today that healed the man on that Galilean road. It is the same Jesus who knows that we carry our burdens around for far too long. And the healing that Jesus offers does not stop with the physical. He also heals our emotional and spiritual isolation. We become light for others through the gift of believing that Jesus wants to make us whole. And it is not just some of us, it is all of us. 

Perhaps Nelson Mandela, who spent 27 years as a political prisoner in South Africa and went on to become their President and winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, said it best:

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that frightens us the most. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and fabulous? 

Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small doesn’t serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We were born to make manifest the glory of God within us. 

It is not just in some of us; it’s in everyone. And, as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.” 

Christmas Blessings to All,

Fr. Kevin MacDonald, C.Ss.R.