Daily Readings - Sun Feb 14 2021
Leviticus
1And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron, saying,2When a man shall have in the skin of his flesh a rising, a scab, or bright spot, and it be in the skin of his flesh like the plague of leprosy; then he shall be brought unto Aaron the priest, or unto one of his sons the priests:45And the leper in whom the plague is, his clothes shall be rent, and his head bare, and he shall put a covering upon his upper lip, and shall cry, Unclean, unclean.46All the days wherein the plague shall be in him he shall be defiled; he is unclean: he shall dwell alone; without the camp shall his habitation be.
Mark
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
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.