I Do Will It!
February 15, 2009
Mark 1:40-45
A leper came to Jesus and kneeling down begged him and said, "If you wish, you can make me clean." Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand, touched him, and said to him, "I do will it. Be made clean." The leprosy left him immediately, and he was made clean. Then, warning him sternly, he dismissed him at once. Then he said to him, "See that you tell no one anything, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses prescribed; that will be proof for them." The man went away and began to publicize the whole matter. He spread the report abroad so that it was impossible for Jesus to enter a town openly. He remained outside in deserted places, and people kept coming to him from everywhere.
Introductory Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you for letting me begin this week contemplating your infinite mercy and love for me. I need your healing touch to become the saint you created me to be. I know you want to heal me because you gave me the gift of my faith: to know and love you and experience the intense joy in following you.
Petition: Lord, I want to be made clean. Touch my heart and heal me with your merciful love.
1. In Need of Healing Like the leper in this Gospel, I, too, am in need of healing. He came humbly, as a beggar, for he had no way of repaying Jesus for such a great act of kindness. But his humility was founded on faith. Confident in the scriptural passage, "Do not reject a suppliant in distress, or turn your face away from the poor" (Sirach 4:4), he insisted reverently. He had no doubt that Jesus could cure him, that Jesus would take interest in an insignificant and anonymous leper. He was asking Our Lord for a miracle, and he knew Jesus would grant it. He also knew that he did not deserve or merit such a gesture of mercy. Even if Jesus refused his plea, he was ready to accept it.
2. Moved with Pity Jesus was moved with pity. He stretched out his hand to touch the leper, revealing God the Father's will in a tender way: "I do will it. Be made clean." Jesus was moved more by the leper's humble faith than by his leprosy. The leper's plea struck at the very core of the mission of the Redeemer. Jesus desires nothing more than to remove sin and its effect in us. Jesus "came into the world to save sinners" (1 Timothy 1:15) and said, "I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly" (John 10:10). The gesture of charity towards the leper foreshadows Christ's redemptive death for all mankind. Jesus wants to reach out to touch our heart and heal us, too. We believe this to be true. All we need to do is let him, approaching him with humility and exercising our faith.
3. Changed Forever The encounter with Jesus changed the leper's life forever. Rather than an encounter with love, it was an encounter of love. Every encounter requires someone's initiative. Although the leper is the one to approach Jesus, is it not Jesus who first makes himself accessible? In the same way, Jesus had initiated the encounter with his first disciples when he walked along the shores of Lake Tiberius, allowing Andrew and John to ask, "Rabbi, where are you staying?" (John 1:38). Lord Jesus, you enter into my life because you want to show me the way to everlasting life with you. Is it not you, kind and gentle Lord, who invites me: "Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdened, and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28)?
Conversation with Christ: Lord Jesus, you are so merciful to me! Thank you for loving me so much. How anxiously you wait to fill me with your love, to heal me from the leprosy of my sins. Help me to be open to your embrace of healing love, confident that each time I kneel before you to beg your forgiveness, you will be moved with pity to touch me and make me clean.
Resolution: Today, I will imitate God's merciful love in my own life with everyone with whom I enter into contact: family, fellow employees, friends.
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The Catholic Calendar for Sunday, February 15, 2009
Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Leviticus 13:1-2, 44-46
Psalm 32:1-2, 5, 11
1 Corinthians 10:31-11:1
Mark 1:40-45
A reflection on today's Scripture:
Most people are repulsed by the sight of bodily deformity, whether it be a mangled face or an ugly sore. In the time of Jesus, leprosy was a broad term for acne, ringworm, or psoriasis, as well as for Hanson's disease. Leprosy in its worst forms involved running sores, decaying flesh, and a putrid odor. Because the early Israelites thought any skin deformity was contagious, the Mosaic Law called for the exclusion of lepers from normal society. They were to shout out, "Unclean, unclean!" when someone approached them. Their humiliation and loneliness of life must have been just as painful as their deformed bodies.
In today's Gospel, the people who were listening to Jesus' teaching must have been indignant at the leper who dared approach that close to Jesus, and beg Him for a cure. Then they must have been horrified that Jesus actually reached out and touched this outcast. That made Jesus Himself legally unclean. What a powerful lesson Jesus' action taught that day! He was obviously compassionate, generously sacrificing His own social status by healing the man.
And, because the newly-cured leper, ignoring Jesus' advice, spread the word of the healing throughout the region, he now made it impossible for Jesus to be seen in any public place without being mobbed by those seeking a similar cure. While the leper returned to society, Jesus was forced out. The Messiah was now the one who needed to seek out desert places!
After this incident, Jesus' listeners knew they should never fear to approach the Master because of their past sins or social standing. He would understand and show compassion. To the "dark side" in each of us, Jesus brings light and healing, if only we can trust in His love. What is holding me back today from approaching Jesus for healing or just for His friendship? There's no such thing as an "outsider" in Jesus' book. All are welcome who seek His loving touch.
Another question: who are the lepers in my book? Do I avoid those who are repulsive to me? Do I shun those with whom I disagree, or those I just don't like? We can all learn from one another. Remember Jesus' words, "I will reject no one who comes to me." We can at least follow the advice of today's second reading and "avoid giving offense." A smile, a welcoming word, patiently listening and then giving a loving response is not going to kill us! In fact, we will receive much more than we give.
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Meditation: Mark 1:40-45
I do will it. Be made clean. (Mark 1:41)
With these few words, Jesus healed a man whose skin disease had isolated him from his fellow Jews. Jewish legislation demanded that anyone with such a disease should be kept "outside the camp" so as not to infect his brothers and sisters (Leviticus 13:46). This regulation was intended to separate those whose afflictions were regarded as punishment from God (Deuteronomy 28:15,27). For the good of the community—both medically and spiritually—such a one had to be quarantined.
Given this background, we should marvel at the compassion Jesus showed. Not only did he heal the man, he reached out and touched him. Jesus touched many people during his ministry, but Jewish law stated that if you touched an unclean person, you would become unclean as well. But that didn't matter to Jesus. He wanted to take away this man's disease and give him a taste of the fellowship he had been missing for so long. And so, with one touch, Jesus freed him from his isolation and restored him to community.
Isn't it ironic, then, that because this man began to publicize his healing, Jesus couldn't enter towns openly? Mark tells us that he had to remain "outside in deserted places" because of the suspicion and controversy he had stirred up (Mark 1:45). Crowds came to him, heard him preach or received his healing, and then went home. But Jesus had nowhere to go; he couldn't enjoy the simple fellowship of everyday living.
This is just another example of how much Jesus sacrificed for us. It wasn't just those few hours on the cross—his entire life was one of self-giving. His whole ministry was about taking upon himself our sins and infirmities so that we could be made whole (Isaiah 53:5). That's how much he loves you. That's how valuable you are to him!
"Jesus, I am in awe of your love. May I never forget your sacrifice!"
Leviticus 13:1-2,44-46; Psalm 32:1-2,5,11; 1 Corinthians 10:31–11:1
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Reading 1: Lv 13:1-2, 44-46
The Lord said to Moses and Aaron,
"If someone has on his skin a scab or pustule or blotch
which appears to be the sore of leprosy,
he shall be brought to Aaron, the priest,
or to one of the priests among his descendants.
If the man is leprous and unclean,
the priest shall declare him unclean
by reason of the sore on his head.
"The one who bears the sore of leprosy
shall keep his garments rent and his head bare,
and shall muffle his beard;
he shall cry out, 'Unclean, unclean!'
As long as the sore is on him he shall declare himself unclean,
since he is in fact unclean.
He shall dwell apart, making his abode outside the camp."
Responsorial Psalm: Ps 32:1-2, 5, 11
R. (7) I turn to you, Lord, in time of trouble, and you fill me with the joy of salvation.
Blessed is he whose fault is taken away,
whose sin is covered.
Blessed the man to whom the LORD imputes not guilt,
in whose spirit there is no guile.
R. I turn to you, Lord, in time of trouble, and you fill me with the joy of salvation.
Then I acknowledged my sin to you,
my guilt I covered not.
I said, "I confess my faults to the LORD,"
and you took away the guilt of my sin.
R. I turn to you, Lord, in time of trouble, and you fill me with the joy of salvation.
Be glad in the LORD and rejoice, you just;
exult, all you upright of heart.
R. I turn to you, Lord, in time of trouble, and you fill me with the joy of salvation.
Reading II: 1 Cor 10:31-11:1
Brothers and sisters,
Whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do,
do everything for the glory of God.
Avoid giving offense, whether to the Jews or Greeks or
the church of God,
just as I try to please everyone in every way,
not seeking my own benefit but that of the many,
that they may be saved.
Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.
Gospel: Mk 1:40-45
A leper came to Jesus and kneeling down begged him and said,
"If you wish, you can make me clean."
Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand,
touched him, and said to him,
"I do will it. Be made clean."
The leprosy left him immediately, and he was made clean.
Then, warning him sternly, he dismissed him at once.
He said to him, "See that you tell no one anything,
but go, show yourself to the priest
and offer for your cleansing what Moses prescribed;
that will be proof for them."
The man went away and began to publicize the whole matter.
He spread the report abroad
so that it was impossible for Jesus to enter a town openly.
He remained outside in deserted places,
and people kept coming to him from everywhere.
