Tag: leper

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Be Healed!

picture of two angry couples sitting on a coach

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Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time Mass Readings

Reading 1: Leviticus 13:1-2, 44-46
Responsorial: Psalm 32:1-2, 5, 11
Reading 2: 1 Corinthians 10:31-11:1
Gospel: Mark 1:40-45

https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/021421.cfm
https://www.deaconrudysnotes.org/

My brothers and sisters, have we got a lot to talk about today on deacon rudy’s notes where every weekend we break open the Word. Not only do we hear Good News in the readings for this weekend, but this Sunday is also the World Day of Marriage and Ash Wednesday is on the 17th! Never a dull moment! Let’s get to it!

In this weekend’s Gospel, a leper approaches Jesus. Now, in Jesus’ time, that was a big deal! As we heard in our first reading from Leviticus, Moses prescribed some pretty tight rules around people who were sick for the sake of the common good. Now, a year or so ago, I might have looked at what Moses said and thought to myself, “That’s a bit extreme.” Of course, now, as the world slogs its way through the pandemic, we might have a better appreciation for restrictions and inconvenience we bear for the greater good. And we’ve affirmed what doctors and scientists already knew, that staying home or keep our distance as we venture out, are the surest ways to limit the spread of illness.

So, the lepers had to set up camp apart from the community and had to be identified in the most embarrassing way when they approached. The leper was supposed to call out “Unclean, unclean!” (Leviticus 13:45) so that everybody knew he was coming.

Now, fast-forward to Jesus’ time. A leper not only approaches Jesus without calling out, but he dares to reach out to Jesus. What he was doing probably shocked everyone around. And the leper threatened to infect Jesus.

But the leper says to Jesus, “If you wish, you can make me clean” (Mark 1:40). Wow! We can hear this guy’s total faith in Jesus by telling him “make me clean.” I mean, we’re still in the first chapter of Mark! People were probably still trying to figure out who Jesus was. But this guy believes and he risks everything to approach Jesus.

What does Jesus say? “I do will it. Be made clean” (Mark 1:41). My brothers and sisters, that is Good News! Just as Jesus says to the leper “Be made clean” he says to you and me “Be made clean.” But how many people wonder if they can approach Jesus? How many people are too embarrassed and think, “Nah, not me. You, maybe, but not me.”

Let’s talk about that for a minute. Sometimes in our relationships – not just marriage – we can hurt each other in the most awful ways. The closer we are to someone, the more we know which buttons to push – and boy can we push those buttons!

Look at the world around us. There’s so much brokenness and I suggest to you that the brokenness in the world reflects the brokenness in our relationships. We hurt someone or we have been wounded by someone. We never forgive and we never forget. So, the world reflects our wounds and brokenness. But here’s the kicker: sometimes we can’t imagine what it would be like not being angry or hurt by so and so. We think, “I have every reason to be angry!” That’s certainly true in our political environment, but it’s also true for some of our relationships. It’s far easier to walk out on a spouse, for example, than to find common ground and forgiveness.

When we choose to walk through life clinging to our hurts and anger and suspicion, we become a sort of emotional leper. We’ve chosen to become that grumpy person who sits in their front room on Halloween with the lights off ready to run outside and tell off the first kid who steps on your lawn. What are the effects of such bitterness? High blood pressure, stress, anxiety, maybe stomach problems and who knows what other ways that misery will manifest?

Is that really who you want to be? And how can Jesus possibly approach you or answer your prayers if your walled up in your own bitter and angry room?

My brothers and sisters, Jesus is ready to say to you “Be made clean” (Mark 1:41). That’s the whole reason Jesus came into the world – to save us! All we must do is lay down our pride and like the leper in today’s Gospel, ask for healing. That’s true for our countries. That’s true for us as individuals. And that’s true for married couples.

On this World Day of Marriage, let’s celebrate the healing presence of Jesus rather than the leprosy of unforgiveness. That willingness to invite Jesus in to heal our relationship begins with what Pope Francis says are perhaps the four hardest things to say to our spouses. I love you. I’m sorry. Please forgive me. And thank you.

Homework! Healed by the saving power of the Word made flesh and in the Eucharist, I ask you to reflect on the following two questions this week. First, test whether I am holding on to unforgiveness. Write out a list of people who’ve hurt you, then pray for each person specifically. If you stumble while reading the list, then there’s room for healing! Second, during your prayer time, say, “If you wish, you can heal me.” Imagine Jesus saying to you, “Be healed!”

I think doing our homework will help us welcome the healing presence of Christ Jesus. Just a quick reminder. Wednesday the 17th is Ash Wednesday. As we begin Lent, we remember it’s not so much that I give something trivial up, like chocolate, than it is about growing in our relationship with Jesus. And it’s difficult to grow if we cling to past hurts. So, let’s offer our Lenten practices of prayer, fasting and almsgiving for bringing healing to our relationships, to our countries, and to the whole world! Do you got it? Do you get it? Good! Now go make disciples! May Almighty God bless you, Father, Son and Holy Spirit! +Amen!

You’re listening to deacon rudy’s notes. Thank you for joining me today. Our theme music was composed by Silent Partner. You can find all sorts of helpful information on the website at www.deaconrudysnotes.org. I’m Deacon Rudy Villarreal. Join me again next weekend as we break open the Word. Peace!

Image Credit: Angry Couple. Artist Unknown. JPG.

Bibliography/Suggested Readings:
1. Healy, Mary. The Gospel of Mark. Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Academic, 2008. Kindle.
2. Montague, George T SM. First Corinthians. Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Academic, 2011. Kindle.

Catechism References http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc.htm:
1. Christ the physician: 1503-5
2. Conscience: 1776-94
3. Jesus hears our prayer: 2616

Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/021421.cfm
Lectionary: 77

Reading 1
Leviticus 13:1-2, 44-46
The LORD said to Moses and Aaron,
“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,
or to one of the priests among his descendants.
If the man is leprous and unclean,
the priest shall declare him unclean
by reason of the sore on his head.

“The one who bears the sore of leprosy
shall keep his garments rent and his head bare,
and shall muffle his beard;
he shall cry out, ‘Unclean, unclean!’
As long as the sore is on him he shall declare himself unclean,
since he is in fact unclean.
He shall dwell apart, making his abode outside the camp.”

Responsorial
Psalm 32:1-2, 5, 11
R. (7) I turn to you, Lord, in time of trouble, and you fill me with the joy of salvation.
Blessed is he whose fault is taken away,
whose sin is covered.
Blessed the man to whom the LORD imputes not guilt,
in whose spirit there is no guile.
R. I turn to you, Lord, in time of trouble, and you fill me with the joy of salvation.
Then I acknowledged my sin to you,
my guilt I covered not.
I said, “I confess my faults to the LORD,”
and you took away the guilt of my sin.
R. I turn to you, Lord, in time of trouble, and you fill me with the joy of salvation.
Be glad in the LORD and rejoice, you just;
exult, all you upright of heart.
R. I turn to you, Lord, in time of trouble, and you fill me with the joy of salvation.

Reading 2
1 Cor 10:31—11:1
Brothers and sisters,
Whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do,
do everything for the glory of God.
Avoid giving offense, whether to the Jews or Greeks or
the church of God,
just as I try to please everyone in every way,
not seeking my own benefit but that of the many,
that they may be saved.
Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.

Alleluia
Luke 7:16
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
A great prophet has arisen in our midst,
God has visited his people.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel
Mark 1:40-45
A leper came to Jesus and kneeling down begged him and said,
“If you wish, you can make me clean.”
Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand,
touched him, and said to him,
“I do will it. Be made clean.”
The leprosy left him immediately, and he was made clean.
Then, warning him sternly, he dismissed him at once.

He said to him, “See that you tell no one anything,
but go, show yourself to the priest
and offer for your cleansing what Moses prescribed;
that will be proof for them.”

The man went away and began to publicize the whole matter.
He spread the report abroad
so that it was impossible for Jesus to enter a town openly.
He remained outside in deserted places,
and people kept coming to him from everywhere.

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Learning from the Margins

A healed leper kneels before Jesus giving thanks

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Twenty-eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time Mass Readings

First Reading: 2 Kings 5:14-17
Responsorial: Psalm 98:1-4
Second Reading: 2 Timothy 2:8-13
Gospel: Luke 17:11-19

http://usccb.org/bible/readings/101319.cfm

In today’s readings, we hear the message that we need to be thankful. In the first reading, the army commander of the King of Aram suffered from leprosy. But he returned to thank the Prophet Elisha for his healing through Yahweh and to pledge his allegiance to the God of Israel. In the Responsorial, the Psalmist urges us to, “Sing joyfully to the Lord…Break into song; sing praise!” St. Paul advises Timothy in the second reading to be grateful to God even in his physical suffering and despite the dangers of spreading the Word of God. And in today’s Gospel, one of the 10 lepers returned to thank Jesus.

So, having a spirit of thankfulness is a central theme of the readings today. But notice something very interesting. In both the first reading and the Gospel, it is the foreigner – the outsider – the one who lives on the margins – who returns to give thanks. In the first reading from 2 Kings 5:14-17, the pagan and foreigner Naaman is healed by the Yahweh. He returns to thank Elisha and he takes with him two mule-loads of earth so that when he returns to Damascus, he can pray to Yahweh on the soil of Israel.

In today’s Gospel, the ten lepers cry out to Jesus for help. He tells them to present themselves to the priests. One leper realized he they had all been healed. He turned back and fell at Jesus’ feet and gave thanks to God for his healing. Jesus asks him, “Ten were cleansed, were they not? Where are the other nine? Has none but this foreigner returned to give thanks to God?” Then he said to him, “Stand up and go; your faith has saved you,” Luke 17:17-19.

Isn’t it interesting? The outsiders – the foreigners return to give thanks to God for their healing. I think there’s a lesson there.

I think that sometimes we can become so comfortable in our lives that we take things for granted – be it our relationships, our work, and even our faith. We lose our sense of wonder at the beauty around us. In other words, we take things for granted. I know there have been times in my life when I put my faith life on autopilot. I just went through the motions without any thought for what I was doing or why. Perhaps we can call this a spiritual leprosy. Of course, spiritual leprosy could also be caused by our own sinful, selfish, proud choices.

During these times in our lives, how did you handle it? Did you turn in to yourself and live with fear, guilt or despair? Did you try to self-soothe during these times in your life, like abusing alcohol, drugs, pornography, sex?

How do we get back on course? You would think that we who are baptized and catechized wouldn’t need any help finding our way. Once we realized we’d made a mistake, we’d snap out of it and get back on track. But unfortunately, it’s not that easy, is it? But God does not abandon us. As we’ve heard in the many parables over these last several weeks, God seeks us like the shepherd in search of the lost sheep or the father who runs through the fields to embrace the prodigal son.

No matter how far we might wander off the path because of our leprosy, the God who loves us unconditionally can speak to us in some of the most interesting ways. For example, a chance encounter with someone – a stranger – on the train or in a coffee shop can be the setting for an encounter with Jesus Christ. Perhaps something the stranger says or does something that triggers an awareness in us. By the stranger’s example, we might realize what we’re doing to ourselves and turn back to God.

Isn’t it ironic that so many of us are indifferent to or even hostile to the stranger – the outsider – the foreigner? But like in today’s readings, the example of thankfulness can come from outside our circle of family and friends. The question is, are we open to those experiences?

Jesus Christ left us this amazing church which offers us so many opportunities to experience the same healing that Naaman and the Samaritan experienced. We experienced this cleansing in the waters of Baptism. We experience this cleansing and healing again and again in the Sacrament of Penance. We can experience this cleansing and healing in the Eucharist. Like Naaman and the Samaritan, we have the opportunity to thank God each and every time we go to Mass. We offer ourselves in sacrifice—falling on our knees before our Lord, giving thanks for our salvation. In this Eucharist, we remember the merciful and healing power of Jesus Christ. And we pray, as Paul in Second Timothy, to persevere in this faith.

Homework! After being nourished by the Word of God proclaimed and by the Eucharist, I encourage you to reflect on the following questions:

  1. I would like you to write out ten things you are thankful for in your life.
  2. I encourage you to use the opportunity of going to mass to give thanks to God for your salvation, and for all the many blessings in your life, like those on your list.

I think by doing our homework we will develop a better and more consistent sense of thankfulness that we should all have as disciples. Do you got it? Do you get it? Good! May Almighty God bless you, Father, Son and Holy Spirit! +Amen!