Daily Readings - Sun Feb 11 2018
Leviticus
1The LORD said to Moses and Aaron,2"When anyone has a swelling or a rash or a bright spot on his skin that may become an infectious skin disease, he must be brought to Aaron the priest or to one of his sons who is a priest.45"The person with such an infectious disease must wear torn clothes, let his hair be unkempt, cover the lower part of his face and cry out, 'Unclean! Unclean!'46As long as he has the infection he remains unclean. He must live alone; he must live outside the camp.
Mark
40A man with leprosy came to him and begged him on his knees, "If you are willing, you can make me clean."41Filled with compassion, Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. "I am willing," he said. "Be clean!"42Immediately the leprosy left him and he was cured.43Jesus sent him away at once with a strong warning:44"See that you don't tell this to anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the sacrifices that Moses commanded for your cleansing, as a testimony to them."45Instead he went out and began to talk freely, spreading the news. As a result, Jesus could no longer enter a town openly but stayed outside in lonely places. Yet the people still came to him from everywhere.
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.