Daily Catholic Mass Readings for January 14, 2021
Psalm 95
1O come, let us sing unto the LORD: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation.2Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms.3For the LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods.4In his hand are the deep places of the earth: the strength of the hills is his also.5The sea is his, and he made it: and his hands formed the dry land.6O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the LORD our maker.7For he is our God; and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. To day if ye will hear his voice,8Harden not your heart, as in the provocation, and as in the day of temptation in the wilderness:9When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my work.10Forty years long was I grieved with this generation, and said, It is a people that do err in their heart, and they have not known my ways:11Unto whom I sware in my wrath that they should not enter into my rest.
Gospel: Mark 1.40-45
40And there came a leper to him, beseeching him, and kneeling down to him, and saying unto him, If thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.41And Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth his hand, and touched him, and saith unto him, I will; be thou clean.42And as soon as he had spoken, immediately the leprosy departed from him, and he was cleansed.43And he straitly charged him, and forthwith sent him away;44And saith unto him, See thou say nothing to any man: but go thy way, shew thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing those things which Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.45But he went out, and began to publish it much, and to blaze abroad the matter, insomuch that Jesus could no more openly enter into the city, but was without in desert places: and they came to him from every quarter.
Sermon
The Gospel today tells the story of a leper who approaches Jesus with deep faith and humility. The leper, aware of his condition and the social isolation it brings, kneels before Jesus and begs for healing, saying, "If you are willing, you are able to cleanse me." Moved by compassion, Jesus reaches out and touches the man, declaring, "I am willing. Be cleansed." Immediately, the leprosy leaves him, and he is made whole. Jesus then instructs the man to go to the priests and follow the rituals prescribed by Moses, but the man, overwhelmed with gratitude, spreads the news about Jesus' healing power, forcing Jesus to minister in deserted places to avoid crowds.
This passage is deeply rooted in the cultural and religious context of Jesus' time. Leprosy was not only a physical affliction but also a social and religious one, as those afflicted were often shunned and considered unclean. The leper's boldness in approaching Jesus reflects his desperation and faith, while Jesus' willingness to touch and heal him defies societal norms and demonstrates His divine authority and compassion. The man's subsequent disobedience in spreading the news highlights the tension between human excitement and the need for humility and obedience.
In our daily lives, this story invites us to reflect on our own faith and trust in God. Like the leper, we often feel unworthy or unclean because of our sins or struggles, but Jesus is always willing to heal and restore us. The passage also challenges us to respond to God's grace with humility and obedience, rather than seeking to draw attention to ourselves. Let us ask for the courage to approach Jesus with the leper's faith and the humility to follow His will, trusting that He is always willing to cleanse and renew us.