I hope children still play Tag! I feel that it has some far-reaching implications that we can take into adult life and apply if we are creative. Once identified as being “it,” we each have a chance to run around, chasing others, trying to touch or “tag” them, so that they now are “it.” It’s a curious and fun game that says a lot about identification, communication, interaction and really Community! It can be interpreted as both negative and positive, depending upon how you look at it. “I’m it!” This can sound very egotistic and self-proclaiming! But at the same time, the responsibility, once you’re “it,” in the game, is to chase others to tag them so that they are now “it!” There is a safety zone, where a player can do a time-out for a specified time length before rejoining the game. In the traditional game, the one who is “it” at the end of the game is considered the “loser.” What does it mean to “lose” at Tag? What does it mean to be a “loser” period?
In today’s Scripture (LK 5: 12-16), Luke tells the story of the man with leprosy, avoided due to his sickness, as prescribed by Jewish law. When he saw Jesus, he fell prostrate and said, “‘Lord, if you wish, you can make me clean.’ Jesus stretched out his hand, touched him, and said, ‘I do will it. Be made clean.” And the man was healed. Then Jesus instructed him not tell anyone, but “Go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses prescribed; that will be proof for them.” Still the word of his healing spread like wildfire. So much so that everyone started coming to Jesus to be healed.
We have here a model of prayer – a prayer of petition marked by trust and faith. The man, who is obviously “it,” and to be avoided due to his condition, approaches Jesus. But note that he doesn’t really ask to be healed. He instead affirms verbally that Jesus has the power to heal him, if He so wills it. And Jesus responds to the leper by saying “I do will it!” And while saying this, Jesus stretches out his hand and touches the man. Jesus is asking to be made “it.” He is going against the law prescribed regarding lepers. In a way, he is saying, “I’m it!” Wait a minute…this isn’t the way we play “tag!” You have broken the rules of the game Jesus!
Jesus says, “I will be the loser! I will reach out to you and receive your touch! I’m not running away!” And what is the result – healing and the unstoppable far-reaching effects not only for the healed man but for his whole community! In the Gospel story, everyone now wants to be “it,” even if they don’t quite understand what that may mean. It’s sort of “Tag” in reverse. In our abandonment and brokenness, we are “it,” and in this circumstance, we have the opportunity to become “It,” – the real “It!” We can be tagged by Jesus. But this is not just a one-on-one game of Tag with Jesus! Everyone’s playing!
The effects of being tagged by Jesus, goes out to everyone! It should not be contained. It’s another epiphany story – God’s presence being manifested in the flesh, in the interaction between God and humanity – true Incarnation! So why don’t we chase each other? Why are we afraid of being “it?” Are we afraid of being the “loser?” Who really loses in this scenario?
The safety zone in the game of “tag” is a temporary place where we may rest, but it’s not a place to stay for long! The scriptures even tell us that Jesus would withdraw to deserted places to pray. We may need to catch our breath, but there is no real safety in being alone. It can only lead to isolation. We must chase each other and joyfully holler, “I’m It!…You’re It!….We are all It!” and just keep running and playing, touching and tagging, reaching and receiving, loving and caring…always confident that God is always with us IN each other and does will to make us Whole!
“Tag!….You’re It!”
Peace
Thomas