As people, we are relational by nature. “People need people” and “No man is an island” are two quotations proving this. Yet every now and then, we have family, a friend, or a loved one who suddenly isolates himself or herself. Not going out, not answering phone calls, no response by text. By this, we know already that there is something wrong.

There are many reasons for isolation: from grief to low self-esteem, from social anxiety to lost desire for socialization, from sadness to hurt, from betrayal to fear.

The well-known Gospel story of the leper was about a person who was isolated because of his sickness. Yet, when the opportunity came he got healed. Three things we remember of the leper that can help us when we deal with isolation:

• First, he wanted to be healed. He knew he was in bad shape but he also knew that this not be his life forever. He wanted a better life. He wanted to be cured.
• Second, he was not overcome with anger. When we get sick, human nature is the tendency to blame God. “Lord, why me when there are others who are sinners?” We also go through the five stages of grief:  denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. By being accepting, when the opportunity came for the leper’s healing, he grabbed it. 
• Third, he knew who to go to. He knew God alone heals. God alone cleans.

In this Mass, we remember people who are in isolation. In as much as we want to reach out to them, we too respect their situation. Let us not judge them because those who have been isolated for some time in their life know how difficult the situation is.

Further, we hold on to the power of prayer, so that they may transition from denial to acceptance.