Do you know of the “Ya, but” principle? It’s a principle that many of use in conversations. That is, when the other person is talking and we could be listening, we instead just wait for the other person to pause, so that we can say, “Ya, but” and explain our position.
Well there’s another principle called the “Centripetal Force” principle. This is the principle in physics [I being swing, in a circle, a pom-pom attached to a long string of yarn] when an object like this string of yarn is trying to “pull in” the pom-pom toward the center.
Another physics principle is called “Centrifugal Force.” This applies to the pom-pom at the end of the string. It wants to break free and move beyond the center (that is to move outward and beyond).
Well, I think both of these principles apply to us. When we try to take care of ourselves, with good eating, good sleep, taking prayer time. Likewise the outward pull occurs when we want to help others, for example when a baby is crying or we watch those heart-wrenching commercials on TV that show pictures of starving children or when we heard of the victims in the shooting in Buffalo this past week. Nearly all of us have “tug of our hearts” to go do something.
The problem comes when that pull inwards is done in unhealthy ways. Like when I focus on myself with a Doritto Fest, or sit down and consume an entire box of Girl Scout cookies, or I sit with only my point of view, and disregard others or disregard facts.
Likewise with outward pull can be unhealthy when it is directed only to select people. Like when I am against the killing. I am against killing when it applies to innocent unborn babies, but think its fine to use the death penalty to eliminate bad criminals. It’s when we select or label people into those we like and those we don’t like.
This cannot be any more apparent than what was going on in Washington this past week with the trial of impeachment against Donald Trump. We could see firsthand how some Senators were only focused on themselves and advancing their careers (this occurred on both sides, Democrats and Republicans) and as some wanted not to help the good of the country but the good of their select side.
Now in the gospel, Jesus encounters a man who most people don’t like. He has leprosy (today known as Hansen Disease) and is shunned. But the way to think of this man is that he symbolizes ALL the people that we don’t want to be around . . . whether that’s because of a physical ailment, a social condition, color of their skin . . . but most often it is because of how they act, what they say or how they live. That is, our presumption about how they act, what they say or how they live.
And Jesus goes against all the social norms by interacting with the disgusting leper. St. Paul, in the second reading urges the Corinthians to “not give offense.” I call that “poking the bear.” You know, it’s when you are with that person that you know thinks differently from you . . . and you antagonize them, or goat them, send them articles that you know will “set them off.”
Because what is missing from most of us is, as St. Paul writes, to imitate Christ. That is, to look for the good in all people. And I take that further to say “look for the Christ in all people.”
[Start circling the pom-pom again] Sure you want to take care of yourself and be at your best, but I believe that we each have an obligation to care for those lepers in our lives (not just the persons that are easy to love or have piety for), but for everyone!
Here's how you can do it. Don’t “ya but” anyone. That is, with the person that gets you so mad . . , don’t be furious, be curious. Don’t listen to respond, listen to hear them
Actor Alan Alda (you know from MASH fame) has a recent book titled If I Understood You, Would I Have This Look on My Face?: My Adventures in the Art and Science of Relating and Communicating. Alda writes:
“I came to the conclusion that, even in life, unless I’m responding with my whole self – unless, in fact, I’m willing to be changed by you – I’m probably not really listening. But if I do listen – openly, naïvely, and innocently – there’s a chance, possibly the only chance, that a true dialogue and real communication will take place between us.”
There will be lepers in our lives always, and notice that Jesus doesn’t cure all leprosy, he just deals with one person. One person.
If the world is going to change, it’s not what happens in Washington DC it’s how you deal with that ONE person who repulses you. Start there. That is, your leper. And maybe you are their leper. Maybe it’s time to change how you talk to them.
Remember, when arguing with a fool, make sure the other isn’t doing the same thing.