Psalm 95 sets the scene, the topic for reflection today. “If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.”
These are difficult times: it’s hard to stay hopeful, easy to harden our hearts, to give up hope. Today in the whole province we enter a State of Emergency with tighter restrictions. But I do hop: This is a new year and there are new developments. The “silver lining”, the light at the end of the tunnel is that there are vaccines, many different kinds and people are slowly being inoculated. Perhaps we can allow for some hope.
In the gospel, Jesus heals a leper. We had this passage not too long ago: I remember reflecting on it. Leprosy was an incurable and contagious, horrible and isolating disease. Lepers had to announce their arrival with the words, “unclean, unclean” to warn people not to get too close: they had to practice “social distancing”. But a leper came to Jesus (it was against the rules of social distancing) and recognized his healing abilities. The leper said, “If you choose, you can make me clean.” And Jesus did. He said, “I will do it. Be clean.” The leper heard his voice. He recognized that Jesus could change his life. Even though Jesus told him to go straight to the priest, the leper was so excited at his cure that he told everyone. He could now be among society again.
He did not harden his heart; he heard his voice and responded. He was now clean, he was free. Of course, now everyone wanted healing and Jesus was overwhelmed as people kept coming to him from everywhere. They heard his voice. They did not harden their hearts. The leper permitted himself hope where there was no hope. He heard God’s voice, and his heart was made light.
With the psalmist, every day we should listen for his voice. “If today you hear God’s voice, harden not your hearts.”