Jesus' attitude was so different. When the leper approached Him Jesus recognised in him a dignity. "Of course I want to cure you". He touched him. That gesture simple as it is said a lot. Through that gesture Jesus was saying to him. I am with you. You are somebody and I want to acknowledge and honour your dignity. You are part of me. Believe in yourself. Believe that God cares for you. Believe that there is much goodness in you. How important it is to be present. Some time in the midst of so much negativity around us we become at a loss what to say or what to do. We become tongue tied, not sure the way to go. Just be there. Remember you are not by yourself. Our God is there right in the midst of things beside you. He will use you to touch and change others in ways that you not expect or hope for.
Last week, Fr Andrea Santoro, a priest aged 60 from the Diocese of Rome made the news. He had been in Turkey for five years. His parish was in the northern part of Turkey close to the border with Georgia. He was shot and killed as he was praying in his parish church at Trabzon, a city on the Black Sea, after celebrating Mass. After working in numerous parishes including as parish priest in the different churches in Rome, he left in 2000 as a Fidei Donum priest establishing himself in Trabzon, where he took care of a small Catholic community of St Mary Kilisi. His flock was made up of eight to nine Catholics, some Orthodox Christians, while ninety nine percent of the population are Muslim.
He was shot by a seventeen year old man. Many blamed the recent heated demonstrations that have been taking place all over the world by Muslims on account of the publishing of cartoons ridiculing the prophet Mohammed. However, there is also another side of the story. In the past, Fr Santoro received many death threats because of his work among young Georgian women who were being brought to Turkey with false hopes of finding work to end up as prostitutes. Many believe that those responsible for this illegal trafficking of women were behind his murder.
He often used to wonder what was he doing in that place. He left his country, his home, everything that was familiar and precious to him for this tiny parish in such a foreign place. Why did he do it? He often used to say. I am here simply to be present. To bring hope not only to the Catholic people, but to everyone that I come in contact with. I am here to be Jesus in this part of the world.
He knew that Pope Benedict XVI was visiting Turkey at the end of November on the invitation of the Orthodox Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew 1, and of the Turkish Government. He sent a letter to the Pope asking him to visit his little parish. Together with his letter, he attached a message from three women in the parish.
"Dear Pope
We greet you in the name of all Georgians. We ask God to give you health in the name of Jesus. We are very happy that God chose you as Pope. Pray for us, for the poor, for the miserable all over the world, for children. We believe your prayer reaches God directly. Georgians are very poor, they have debt, they have no homes or work. We are without strength.
At present we live in Trabzon and work. Pray that God will bless us and create in us a new and pure heart. We do not forget the Christian life and we try to be a good example for Turks in the name of God so that through us they will see and glorify God.
We have many things to say and recount but God willing, if you come to Trabzon we will be able to speak to you face to face. Your coming will be a joyful celebration. We pray and hope that God will give your health, peace and a Christian life. We kiss your hands. We will be happy if you reply and send us a photo with your signature.
Signed, Maria, Marina and Maria.
Just by being there, Fr Santoro has given hope and has deeply touched at least these three women.
The story has not changed. The story still goes on. There are so many in our own community who needs our presence. The young person who is confused about his or her future. The young mother who is undergoing treatment while caring for a young family. The father who is at loss what to do with the troublesome character of one of his children. The old person who sees life slowly ebbing away. The priest or the religious who is anxious about the quality of the ministry. Let us not run away. Let us present them with the heart, the mind and the face of Jesus. Let us touch them by our presence and be able to say, In Jesus' name I am here for you and with you. Never under estimate the great work that we all can do in the name of our God.
God bless.
