Mark 1:40-45

Leviticus 13:1-2, 44-46

Psalm 32:1-2, 5, 11

1 Corinthians 10:31-11:1

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.

Opening Prayer: Lord God, you sent your only begotten Son to heal sinful humanity and restore us to communion with you. By doing this, you have revealed that your love is eternal, that your mercy is bountiful, and that your kindness is great. Pour out your love and grace into my heart today!

Encountering the Word of God

1. Leprosy in the Old Law: The Law of Moses gave very specific instructions about contagious skin infections. Those affected posed a health risk to the entire community and unfortunately needed to be separated from the community. The Law of Moses put the priests in charge of examining a person and declaring them unclean or, if they later healed, declaring them clean. Separation from the community was a difficult measure but also a necessary one, due to the limited medical knowledge at the time, to protect the people. During the recent pandemic, many of us experienced what it is like to be socially isolated from others.

2. The Spiritual Leprosy of Sin: Physical leprosy can be seen as an image of the spiritual leprosy of sin. Just as leprosy led to separation from the community and God, sin drives a wedge between us and God and between us and our brothers and sisters. In the Gospel, the leper approaches Jesus. Rather than ask to be healed, he asks to be made clean. This indicates how he desires to be readmitted into the community so that he can worship God with the community. Jesus touches the leper and is not defiled. Jesus has the power to heal and cleanse not only physical ailments but also the spiritual uncleanliness of sin. Through Jesus, the barrier between God and humanity is torn down and communion is restored.

3. Imitating Paul: In his Letter to the Corinthians, Paul boldly asks them to imitate him as he imitates Christ. He is speaking in particular about not giving offense, about pleasing others, and about working to bring others to salvation. Part of Paul’s concern in the First Letter to the Corinthians is about eating food that had been sacrificed to idols (1 Corinthians 8-10). Theologically speaking, Paul declares twice that eating food that was sacrificed or offered to idols is harmless in itself (1 Corinthians 8:8-9; 10:23-30). However, from a pastoral point of view, those who understand this and have a strong or well-informed conscience should still refrain from eating it so as not to scandalize those in the community with a weak or fragile conscience. Paul gives practical advice too. When you go to the market, do not ask about whether or not the meat sold there was offered in sacrifice to idols. As well, when you go to someone’s house and have a meal do not ask about where the meat came from. If, however, you happen to find out that the meat in fact was sacrificed to an idol, refrain from eating it. This was a temporary restriction in the early Church that helped Gentiles break from pagan culture and promoted table fellowship between Jewish and Gentile Christians.

Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, you teach me that true charity and love build up the community. Help me to exercise my freedom as a child of God in love. Extend your hand toward me and heal me with your touch.

Resolution: How can I imitate Paul today? Is there anyone I am offending by my words or actions? Is there anyone I am scandalizing by my life? Am I working to bring others to experience salvation in Christ? How can I separate myself from sin today?