Matthew 8
As I become more and more involved with the downtown ministry, I find myself starting look for ways that scripture can guide me through this new ministry. The first four verses of Matthew 8 raised a question in my mind.
In this chapter, Jesus heals a man with leprosy. He tells the man, "See that you don’t tell anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the gift Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.”
The question this raises for me is not why did Jesus tell the man not to tell anyone, but what became of the man after he had been declared "clean" by the priest. Back in Jesus' time, leprosy was such a feared, untreatable disease that victims of this horrible condition were simply pushed out from civilization. Lepers were made to live by the city trash heaps, outside the walled cities, shipped to leper colonies. In fact as recent at 2001 leper colonies were known to exist in Japan.
A person suffering from leprosy in the first century would not only be cut off from any social or family interaction, but property rights would be abolished, employment unattainable, etc. Therefore, when a person was healed from the disease, I imagine that many people had to start from scratch. No job, no home, no friends and perhaps no supportive family. Much like many of the people we meet each Sunday at the APO.
I am left wondering, what happened to the cured leper? How did he make it from the initial miraculous healing to being a contributing member of society again? I think this Biblical story points to the two levels of assistance needed.
First, there is the need for immediate relief. But it cannot stop there. The road to productivity and contribution is more than just a "cure" from one single ailment. If we are going to move downtown and truly help those in need, there needs to be a commitment to the long haul with individuals connecting with individuals. Not a one-and-done mentality. That might prove to be the biggest hurdle of all.
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