Jesus stretches out his hand to the leper

Black History Month was observed in our diocese on Sunday, Feb. 15, with the celebration of Mass followed by a brunch and an afternoon of jazz.

Black History Month has been on our national calendar for more than 40 years. It is an opportunity to recognize the contributions to our society of Black Americans. The offering of Mass on the occasion of Black History Month is a fitting spiritual tribute to Black Catholics.

Despite the poor driving conditions that Sunday resulting from the snow and freezing temperatures, people came to the parish of St. Michael the Archangel in Franklinville. Our newly reorganized diocesan Gospel Choir provided joyful music. Their spirited and soulful hymns moved the congregation to lift their voices in prayerful praise of God.

Father Anthony Bozeman, a Josephite priest, who is a native of Philadelphia and is presently serving in New Orleans, preached. In the tradition of Black preachers, the Word of God came alive through his use of humor, story, words, Scripture and critique. With a pitched cadence, Father focused on the exchange between Jesus and the leper reported in the Gospel for the sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time. In that encounter Jesus stretched out his hand and touched the leper.

“You can touch me” became the preacher’s mantra …You can touch my life, my relationships, my brokenness, my sin, my community, my Church and my nation with your healing. I suggest that is an easy prayer to remember. Make it your own during these six weeks of Lent. Jesus and the leper are engaged in an encounter. They meet up with one another and something happens to both of them. Both are changed by that encounter.

Lent reminds us that we are in need of the healing touch of the Lord. We can pray “You can touch me, Lord.” That prayer recognizes that we are sinners who are welcome to our Church and to Jesus Christ.

The Holy Father Francis, addressing the recent Consistory of new Cardinals, said that “the way of the Church is to pour out the balm of God’s mercy on all those who ask for it with a sincere heart.” Our Lenten practices of prayer, charity and penance can stir up in our souls a deeper need for Christ’s healing touch, especially for His touch of Mercy. Lent is a time for us to look inward at ourselves in order to live outward as better Christians.

“Can’t nobody do me like Jesus,” sang the Gospel choir at the Mass, “Picked me up and turned me around.” The refrain of that spiritual captures the essence of what the Lenten disciplines can do for us. May this be your experience during this Lent 2015.