Daily Readings - Sun Feb 11 2018

First Reading - Leviticus 13.1-2, 45-46

¹And the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying²The man in whose skin or flesh there will have arisen a diverse color, or a pustule, or something that seems to shine, which is the mark of leprosy, shall be brought to Aaron the priest, or to anyone you wish among his sons⁴⁵shall have his clothes unstitched, his head bare, his mouth covered with a cloth, and he himself shall cry out that he is contaminated and filthy⁴⁶The entire time that he is a leper and unclean he shall live alone outside the camp

Second Reading - 1 Corinthians 10.31 – 11.1

1 Corinthians

Chapter 10

³¹Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever else you may do, do everything for the glory of God³²Be without offense toward the Jews, and toward the Gentiles, and toward the Church of God³³just as I also, in all things, please everyone, not seeking what is best for myself, but what is best for many others, so that they may be saved

Chapter 11

¹Be imitators of me, as I also am of Christ

Gospel - Mark 1.40-45

Mark

Chapter 1

⁴⁰And a leper came to him, begging him. And kneeling down, he said to him, "If you are willing, you are able to cleanse me.⁴¹Then Jesus, taking pity on him, reached out his hand. And touching him, he said to him: "I am willing. Be cleansed.⁴²And after he had spoken, immediately the leprosy departed from him, and he was cleansed⁴³And he admonished him, and he promptly sent him away⁴⁴And he said to him: "See to it that you tell no one. But go and show yourself to the high priest, and offer for your cleansing that which Moses instructed, as a testimony for them.⁴⁵But having departed, he began to preach and to disseminate the word, so that he was no longer able to openly enter a city, but had to remain outside, in deserted places. And they were gathered to him from every direction

Sermon

In today’s readings, we encounter themes of isolation, compassion, and the call to live as imitators of Christ. The first reading from Leviticus describes the ritual impurity of leprosy, emphasizing the physical and social separation of those afflicted. This was not only a health precaution but also a religious designation, reflecting the understanding of sin and uncleanness in ancient Israel. The leper was forced to live outside the camp, a visible reminder of the consequences of impurity. In the Gospel, Mark presents a stark contrast as Jesus encounters a leper. While the law in Leviticus required isolation, Jesus reaches out with compassion, touching the leper and healing him. This act of love transcends the boundaries of ritual purity, showing that God’s mercy and restoration are available to all, regardless of their condition. Yet, Jesus instructs the healed leper to follow the Mosaic law by presenting himself to the priests, demonstrating that his healing is not a rejection of tradition but a fulfillment of it. Paul’s letter to the Corinthians bridges these ideas, urging believers to live in a way that glorifies God and seeks the good of others. Just as Jesus reached out to the leper, we are called to imitate Christ by being compassionate and selfless. This means avoiding actions that might offend others and instead seeking to build up the community. In our daily lives, we are challenged to move beyond the boundaries that separate us—whether they be social, cultural, or spiritual—and to embrace those on the margins with the same love and humility that Jesus showed the leper. Let us strive to be instruments of healing and reconciliation, reflecting the heart of Christ in all we do.