February 11, 2024, Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time; Year (B)

Readings: Lv. 13:1-2, 44-46; 1 Cor. 10:31-11:1; Mk. 1:40-45 

Go and show yourself to the Priest. 

The first reading described the deplorable condition of lepers. “If someone has on his skin a scab or pustule or blotch which appears to be the sore of leprosy, he shall be brought to Aaron, the priest.” (Lv.13:1). According to Fr. Robinson, “Without the sophistication of modern medicine, the term “leprosy” was applied to almost any kind of skin disease: such as ringworm, psoriasis, eczema, and leprosy itself. Anyone afflicted with such diseases was required to avoid contact with anyone else lest the disease spread to the whole community. A ‘leper’ could not work, go to a synagogue or temple, or visit their family. Usually, a ‘leper’ lived in caves or tombs alone or a colony with other lepers.” It was the responsibility of the Priest to declare a leper unclean. Such a person was then cast out of the community.

2.     The leper in today’s gospel knew his dire and deplorable situation. Leprosy can chop off people’s fingers and toes, eating off the earlobes and hardening the stumps left, disfiguring the leper completely. The leper knew he was not to come out in public or near anyone, even Jesus. He dared it all the same. He had no other option than Jesus, who says, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” (Jn.14:6) Again, “Come to me all who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest.” (Mt. 11:28). He was courageous, bold, and hopeful. He must have heard about Jesus, that he was compassionate, kind, merciful, and caring. He approached Jesus, went on his knees, and made his request. “If you wish, you can make me clean.” (Mk. 1:40). His prayer was simple. He surrendered himself and entrusted his sickness into the hands of Jesus. His faith was in God; he was hopeful that “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted, he saves those whose spirit is crushed.” (Ps. 34:18-19). Because “Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion, which cannot be shaken but endures forever.” (Ps. 125:1). We must have the courage to break free from the status quo and go for what we want. If you want it so badly, then break free and go for it. 

3.     Two instances stand out for me in the bible, among many others, that Jesus touched and transformed people and left them speechless. The first is the woman caught in the act of committing adultery. She was condemned to death; her accusers were waiting with stones in their hands. The law of Moses commanded it, and they were ready to obey. But Jesus uttered those magic words: “Let the one among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” (Jn. 8:7). With that, the woman was brought back to life from the brink of death. She was grateful to Jesus and praised him for her life.

4.     The second is the leper in today’s gospel. We heard the prayer of the leper and heard those magic words again from the lips of Jesus: “I do will it. Be made clean.” (Mk. 1:41). And “Leprosy left him immediately, and he was made clean.” (Mk. 1:42). Then Jesus told him to “go, show yourself to the priest.’ Jesus rescued the leper from isolation, disgrace, pain, distress, rejection, and helplessness. Mark Links states, “The leper’s life was a living hell. People hated seeing him, and he, in turn, hated himself.” The Psalmist describes his wretched condition. “Those who know me are afraid of me; when they see me in the street, they run away…I am like something thrown away.” (Ps. 31:11-12). But the Lord removed from his mouth the words we heard from Job last week, “I shall not see happiness again.” (Job 7:7). Instead, the leper would say, “I waited, waited for the Lord, who bent down and heard my cry. He drew me out of the pit of destruction, out of the swamp’s mud, set my feet upon rock, steadied my steps.” (Ps.40:1-4).

5.     Our world is desperately in need of love. Young people do unthinkable things in the name of love, but Jesus is the lover that the world needs. He will never disappoint us. We are fragile people living in a broken world. But St. Paul reminds us in the second reading that “We are often troubled, but not crushed; sometimes in doubt, but never in despair and though badly hurt at times, we are not destroyed. For this reason, we never become discouraged.” (2Cor. 4:8-9,16). Let us go out of our way to look for Jesus with our pains, rejection, sin, and sickness. Jesus will touch and heal our wounds. Jesus is the lover who loves us more than anyone else. We are lepers excluded from the community because of our sins. Our sins have hardened our hearts and left us twisted and broken. But Christ will direct us to show ourselves to the Priest in the sacrament of reconciliation so that he may restore us to wholeness and reconcile us to God and one another. Be courageous, be strong, and approach the God who loves and is ready and willing to forgive us. May God bless you now and always! Amen. 

 

Rev. Augustine Etemma Inwang, MSP