Jesus reached out his
hand and touched the man.
“I am willing,” he
said. “Be clean!”
Immediately he was
cleansed of his leprosy.
Matthew
8:3
A terrible outbreak of leprosy occurred
in 19th Century Hawaii. This disfiguring disease created
fear throughout the islands. It's cause was unknown and it was
believed to be highly contagious. The police would forcibly remove
infected individuals to be quarantined on the isolated peninsula of
Molokai. Family members were not allowed to visit and contact with
the outside world was limited.
The lepers were expected to fend for
themselves. The government provided meager rations and one set of
clothes per year. The strong would prey on the weak and, with no
hope, many would spend their days in drunken debauchery. The dying
would be abandoned to die alone without comfort.
Damien de Veuster
was a Roman Catholic missionary priest from Belgium who volunteered
to take the gospel to the Hawaiian Islands. When he learned about the
lepers of Molokai, he volunteered to move to the colony and minister
to the patients' physical and spiritual needs.
Although warned to
avoid physical contact, Damien would touch and embrace the lepers,
demonstrating love and acceptance. Perhaps, he remembered Matthew
8:3, where Jesus touched and healed a leper. He lead worship, changed
their bandages, planted vegetable gardens and built houses and other
buildings. He would comfort the dying, dig the graves and build the
coffins. His energy and determination brought hope that resulted in
the patients becoming his allies in the transformation of their
colony.
He tirelessly
championed the cause of the people under his care. He would not let
them be neglected by government or church authorities. He ensured the
dignity and humane treatment of the colony's patients. He labored
alone for years but, as word of his work got around, other ministers
joined him.
Damien became
infected with leprosy and, after sixteen years of serving at Molokai,
it would take his life. He was comforted in his last days not only
physically by the medical missionaries that had come to the colony
but, also, by knowing that care for those he loved would continue.
He is honored by
statues in Hawaii Belgium and by movies (Molokai)
and books (Father
Damien.) The Roman Catholic Church designated
him a Saint. Damien is remembered today because of his love for Jesus
and the outcasts with whom Jesus identified. Damien's love overcame
the fear of disease and death.
The
King will reply, “Truly I tell you,
whatever
you did for one of the least
of
these brothers and sisters of mine,
you
did for me.”
Matthew 25:40
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