Daily Readings - Sun Feb 14 2021

¹The LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying,²"When a person has on the skin of his body a swelling or an eruption or a spot, and it turns into a case of leprous disease on the skin of his body, then he shall be brought to Aaron the priest or to one of his sons the priests,⁴⁵"The leprous person who has the disease shall wear torn clothes and let the hair of his head hang loose, and he shall cover his upper lip and cry out, 'Unclean, unclean.'⁴⁶He shall remain unclean as long as he has the disease. He is unclean. He shall live alone. His dwelling shall be outside the camp.

1 Corinthians

Chapter 10

³¹So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.³²Give no offense to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God,³³just as I try to please everyone in everything I do, not seeking my own advantage, but that of many, that they may be saved.

Chapter 11

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

Mark

Chapter 1

⁴⁰And a leper came to him, imploring him, and kneeling said to him, "If you will, you can make me clean."⁴¹Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand and touched him and said to him, "I will; be clean."⁴²And immediately the leprosy left him, and he was made clean.⁴³And Jesus sternly charged him and sent him away at once,⁴⁴and said to him, "See that you say nothing to anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded, for a proof to them."⁴⁵But he went out and began to talk freely about it, and to spread the news, so that Jesus could no longer openly enter a town, but was out in desolate places, and people were coming to him from every quarter.

Sermon

In today’s readings, we encounter themes of isolation, compassion, and the call to live as examples of Christ. The first reading from Leviticus describes the isolation of those afflicted with leprosy, emphasizing the need for purification and adherence to ritual laws. This context highlights the societal and religious barriers faced by lepers, who were often shunned and forced to live on the fringes of community life. In contrast, the Gospel from Mark presents a radical act of compassion: Jesus reaches out to a leper, touches him, and heals him. This act not only restores the man physically but also challenges the social and religious norms that had excluded him. Jesus’ command to the healed leper to follow Moses’ instructions serves as a reminder of the importance of faith and obedience. The second reading from 1 Corinthians bridges these themes by emphasizing the call to live in a way that honors God and imitates Christ. Paul urges believers to avoid offense and to seek the good of others, even if it means personal sacrifice. This selfless approach to life reflects the same compassion and love that Jesus demonstrated in healing the leper. Together, these readings invite us to consider how we might break down barriers and reach out to those who feel isolated or marginalized in our own world. As we reflect on these passages, let us ask ourselves: How can we, like Jesus, show compassion to those who feel excluded or forgotten? How can we, like Paul, live in a way that reflects the love and mercy of Christ? May we be inspired to imitate Christ by reaching out to others with kindness and generosity, and may we always seek to bring healing and hope to a world in need.