As I reflect on the Gospel of Luke, chapter 17:11-19, I had to wonder who our society and our church consider to be the modern day lepers. Through no fault of their own, (these people did not pray or ask for leprosy) the lepers were outcasts of society, banned from entering the city, made to feel like outsiders and outcasts.

The same people who praised God and called Him their Lord, allowed their fears, anxieties, close mindedness, and legalistic approach to God and church to cut them off from people who just like them needed love, mercy, kindness, affirmation, forgiveness and hope.

Pope John Paul II in his apostolic letter "Tertio Adveniente" says "As we prepare to enter the next one thousand years of Christian experience, we need to begin where Jesus began, with mercy, forgiveness and liberation".

If we look at our lives as a circle, we have many people that we have invited into our circle. Told them through words and actions that they are welcome in our lives. Likewise through word and deed we have told others that they are not welcome in our lives. In other words, they are to stay outside the city and scream out "Jesus, Master! Have pity on me!"

It is not easy for me to admit that I am biased and prejudiced towards certain people. The Gospel constantly calls me to broaden my circle of life. Not to exclude anyone from my circle. Mercy has been defined as "Not giving a person what they deserve". Have you ever prayed, "Lord please give me what I deserve". When we ask God for mercy we are asking Him to give us what we do not deserve.

As we approach the Third Millennium we must be willing to connect and touch the core of alienation, to listen and understand the struggles people are going through. True community requires that we relate to one another. We must stop judging one another and start building bridges instead of barriers.

The pharisees were prayerful people who allowed their "righteous goodness" to blind them from seeing the down and outs of their day. They thought religion was only for the good and they defined "the good" as people who worshiped, prayed and had the same ideas of God and church as they did.

Jesus says to us in the Matthew 9:12-13, "For I have come to call not the righteous but sinners". That means He is calling me everyday.

As we prepare for Advent and the birth of our Savior, we must remember that Jesus was born in the nearest handy shelter. A dark, dirty place with only a manger and some straw. It was hardly a fitting place to receive the Son of God. But that is where He came. The Holy family, Jesus, Mary and Joseph were considered by society to be outsiders. Maybe that is why Jesus can still be found with the outcasts and rejected of the world. "He knows firsthand what it feels like to be outside the circle of acceptance".

As I look around the caves of my heart---troubled, confused, dejected and virtually helpless, the best thing I can do is to say, "Come Lord Jesus, be born here where you are most needed. Shine your light into the dark places of my heart."

Glenn Harmon © 2002