Daily Readings - Thu Jan 14 2021
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
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.