Daily Readings - Sun Feb 11 2024

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

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

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

The readings today invite us to reflect on the themes of isolation, compassion, and the call to live in a way that glorifies God. In the first reading from Leviticus, we hear about the ritual purity laws surrounding leprosy, which required those afflicted to live outside the camp, separated from the community. This was not only a physical isolation but also a spiritual one, as the leper was considered unclean and unable to participate in worship. The reading reminds us of the deep human need for connection and the pain of exclusion. In the Gospel, Mark presents a stark contrast to the isolation of the leper in Leviticus. Jesus encounters a leper who begs for healing, and instead of rejecting him, Jesus reaches out with compassion. The touch of Jesus’ hand and his words, “I am willing. Be cleansed,” demonstrate a radical love that transcends societal norms and religious rules. This act of healing not only restores the leper physically but also reintegrates him into the community. It shows us that God’s love is not about exclusion but about inclusion and restoration. The second reading from 1 Corinthians ties these themes together. Paul encourages the Corinthians to live in a way that seeks the good of others, imitating Christ who emptied himself for the sake of the world. Like Jesus, we are called to reach out to those on the margins, to touch the untouchable, and to bring healing and hope. In our daily lives, this means being mindful of how we treat others, especially those who feel isolated or excluded. Let us strive to be instruments of God’s love, breaking down barriers and building a community where everyone feels valued and included.