About 130 years ago, Molokai, despite its beauty, was considered cursed because it once housed a colony of lepers in an area called Kalaupapa. People with leprosy were thrown away in this area like garbage in a dumpster. Lepers would arrive by ship and were commanded to jump overboard and swim for their lives to the shore. Sometimes, a strong rope was run from the anchored ship to the shore, and the lepers pulled themselves painfully through the high, salty waves.
No one cried for them. No one buried them. This was an island, even with all its beauty, which had no hope and carried only despair. No buildings, shelters nor portable water wer available on the island. Lepers dwelled in rock enclosures, caves and in the most rudimentary shacks, built of sticks and dried leaves. The dead lepers and fallen body parts were food for the dogs and pigs. It was hell on earth!
In 1873, Father Damien deVeuster, aged 33, arrived at Kalaupapa. No one forced him to the island! Rather, he went to the leper colony on his own. Father Damien desired to share the love of Jesus and the value of life in Jesus. He wanted to share about the new life through Jesus! But no one would listen to him! All the talk of the kingdom of God where there are no tears, pain or sickness, fell on deaf ears!
Leper victims sneered at Father Damien, “Do you know what it’s like to be a leper? Do you know the pain of losing your finger, your nose and your arm? You talk of this grandeur place of hope but we have no hope! Do you know what it’s like to live without hope?”
Father Damien thought to himself, "Unless I get closer to them, I will never reach them with the gospel of Jesus." So he started to rub shoulders with them. He moved into their colony. He started to eat with them. He even built a small chapel in the middle of the colony that they may worship together. And he continued to share about the life in Jesus and the hope of the future.
Eleven years after Father Damien arrived in Molokai, he spilled a pot of boiling water over his legs. Immediately, his skin started to boil up with blisters under the boiling water; but he did not feel anything. Father Damien had unfortunately, become like one of the lepers.
The next day, during chapel, he started his message with... “We are leprosy victims...” Those who realized what had happened to Father Damien started to well up and cry! And the ‘cursed’ island of Molokai started to transform into an island of love and joy. People began caring for each other. Those who were once left to die in agony were cared for so they could die with dignity. And the temperament of the whole colony started to change. It became a foretaste of heaven as people started to act and behave like the beauty that surrounded them.Eventually, Father Damien's face became unrecognizable as the disease took its toll. However, until his death in 1889, he cared for the lepers and was buried among the lepers!
Father Damien reminds me of Jesus. Why did Jesus come to this world knowing that it was full of pain and suffering? Why did Jesus house himself in the frailty of a human body to enter a world that back stabs with a kiss? People long to become a god, but why did Jesus, who is God, gave his divinity a hold? Instead of coming with the pomp and circumstance of angels and the crown of Israel upon his head, Jesus came quietly through a poor couple who could only afford a stable. Why? Jesus who was without sin became sin on the cross. Why? While Jesus had all, he gave it all up. Why? For you and me! He emptied himself so that you and I might be filled with Him! He became like us so he could restore us to God!
Today, as we look forward to the launch of Disciple Church, God is calling us to do the same for the friends who surround us! He wants us to be like Father Damien! He wants us to enter our world to share the good news of Jesus! Like Jesus, he wants us to empty ourselves to invite our friends into an intimate relationship with Jesus. Let us respond to that call! I guarantee you, you will have an adventure far more exhilarating than anything else! As we give ourselves in service to the world, you’ll discover the joy that was in Jesus as he carried his cross.
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