Sunday, 11 February 2024. Read Leviticus 13:1-2,44-46, Ps. 32:1-2,5,11, 1 Corinthians 10:31-11:1, Mark 1:40-45
“And a leper came to him (Jesus) beseeching him, and kneeling said to him, ‘If you will, you can make me clean.’ Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand and touched him, and said to him, ‘I will be clean.’” Mark 1:40-41)
Last Sunday, Jesus followed Peter and Andrew home, where He healed Peter’s mother-in-law of her fever. She got up and served at the table as soon as she became well. Today, we are presented with another healing episode of Jesus, the Leper, who (like Peter’s mother-in-law) became an evangelist afterwards, contributing his part to the Kingdom of God. Has God ever done something good for you? What are you giving in return? With this in mind, let us now examine our lessons for today:
1. Sin, like Leprosy, is Deadly and highly Contagious.
In today’s first reading, God told Moses and Aaron that the leper must be declared unclean, wear torn clothes, let his hair loose, cover his upper lips and cry ‘unclean’, ‘unclean.’ Wasn’t this quite harsh? From a spiritual perspective, we may define leprosy as a sin, given that it is not only deadly but also highly contagious. Hence, Jesus warned: “Temptations to sin are sure to come; but woe to him by whom they come! It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were cast into the sea than he should cause one of these little ones to sin.” (Luke 17:1-2, Cf. Matthew 18:6-7).
This is exactly what St. Paul teaches us in our second reading: Avoid Scandal. You may not see anything wrong with eating meat sacrificed to idols, but if doing so will scandalise neophytes in the faith, why should you? Our people say that when one finger touches oil, it spreads to the others. Whatever we do or refuse to do, we must ensure it is for the glory of God. This means we should avoid sin at all costs as Jesus said: “Nothing is hidden that shall not be made manifest, nor anything secret that shall not be known and come to light.” (Luke 8:17).
2. Are You Presently Stuck in Sin? Then follow the Leper’s Steps to Freedom.
Having established that sin is like leprosy that destroys us, the question is: “Is there any way out?” When the leper asked if Jesus would heal him, Jesus said: “Yes.” Today, Jesus is still saying, “Yes. I want to heal you. I want to free you from that bondage.” No matter how bad our condition is or how deep we have sunk in sinful behaviours, the leper's healing shows us hope. Let us now consider the steps the leper took to receive healing:
a. THE LEPER DETESTED HIS CONDITION. First, the leper was not in denial; he fully accepted his situation but hated it and kept looking for a breakthrough. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves (1 John 1:8). However, the first step to healing is to develop a strong hatred for sin. When fully developed within you, this hatred for sin will push you to the next stage; it will cause you to move.
b. THE LEPER LEFT HIS COLONY. Notice that it was the leper who came to meet Jesus. The leper was not amid other lepers; he was not in his comfort zone when he found Jesus. In his attempt to meet Jesus, he must have faced ridicule, shame and insults from people, but he did not mind. Do you seek to do away with sin in your life? Then, change your friends, stop following those who cheer you up and encourage you in evil, leave your comfort zone, and step out of any environment that breeds sin. Remove yourself from the leper’s colony.
c. THE LEPER CAUGHT THE ATTENTION OF JESUS. There were thousands of people pressing around Jesus, but there was something this leper did; He knelt before Jesus, and while prostrating, he expressed deep faith in Jesus’ ability to cleanse him: “If you want to, you can make me clean…” Jesus was immediately moved with pity. Thousands of people flock to prayer houses day in and day out. There are churches everywhere today, but the question is: “Does my prayer life get the attention of Jesus?” Do I have this attitude of faith as the leper?
d. THE LEPER ALLOWED HIMSELF TO BE TOUCHED. Just as in the healing of Peter’s mother-in-law, we see Jesus stretching out His hand to touch the leper. In those days, it was completely forbidden for a healthy person to touch a leper. By this action, Jesus fulfils the prophecy of Isaiah: “Surely he has borne our grief and carried our sorrows; … upon him was the chastisement that made us whole, and with his stripes, we are healed.” (Isaiah 53:4-5) No matter how dirty you think you are, Jesus wants to touch you; He wants to carry your burdens; he wants to eat in your house (like He did with Zacchaeus); Jesus wants to embrace you, but would you allow yourself to be touched? Would you soften your heart and decide to repent today?
e. THE LEPER BECAME AN EVANGELIST AFTERWARD. Upon receiving healing, the leper could not hold his joy. He forgot that Jesus told him not to tell anyone. The truth is that we cannot keep silent once we encounter Jesus. If you have never spoken to anyone about Jesus, it is either you are yet to know Jesus, or you are not yet convinced that Jesus is God, or perhaps you do not believe that Jesus has ever done anything good for you. The best and most effective form of evangelisation is telling others our story, our encounter with Jesus, and how our lives changed forever.
Let us pray: Almighty, ever-living God, I am tired of my leprosy. I hate my present condition, so I come to you; if you want to, you can make me clean. Through Jesus Christ, Our Lord. Amen.
Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless you. (6th Sunday in Ordinary Time. Bible Study: Leviticus 13:1-2,44-46, Ps. 32:1-2,5,11, 1 Corinthians 10:31-11:1, Mark 1:40-45).
@Rev. Fr. Evaristus E. Abu
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