VI Sunday in OT-[2015]-Levi 13:1-2,45-46;1Cori 10:23-11:1;Mk 1:40-45

VI Sunday in OT-[2015]-Levi 13:1-2,45-46;1Cori 10:23-11:1;Mk 1:40-45

Introduction:    All three readings today contain the Christian teaching on the need for social acceptance even when people are different from us.  They also tell us that it is purity or holiness of soul coming from God that cleanses our lives.

Exegesis:    The gospel text of today describes the encounter between Jesus and a person with ‘leprosy’.  Though there are still some societies where people with leprosy are stigmatized, generally we have a better understanding of the disease today: that it is caused by a bacteria; the development of the disease is associated with malnutrition; it is curable; and once treated it is not contagious.  During the time of Jesus – as it may be the case in some societies up to our own times – any condition that involved discharging out of body fluids was anomalous, mysterious and unhygienic.  Hence, many taboos were developed around these conditions.  The Book of Leviticus makes a clear distinction between just a scab on the skin and a condition that forms ulcers (Lev 13:2-30).  The ulcerous condition creates secretions and hence the individual with these conditions has to be isolated not only for hygienic reasons but because they are ritualistically impure! Therefore, what is referred to as ‘leprosy,’ in the gospel text of today and in the first reading, was not just a physical condition, but had its social and spiritual implications.  Therefore, the cure of the man with leprosy by Jesus was also not just a physical healing, but it involved the re-establishment of the social and spiritual status of the man. 

Intra-personal Wellbeing: The gospel text of today begins with these words, “A leper came to Jesus and pleaded on his knees…” (Mk 1:40).  By coming to Jesus, the man with ‘the virulent skin-disease’, has broken the Law.  In the Lukan story of the ten men with a skin-disease, “they stood some way off” (Lk 17:12). As we heard in the first reading of today, “the man must live apart; he must live outside the camp” (Lev 13:46).  Jesus not only allows the man to come nearby, but also stretches out his hand and touches the man (Mk 1:41). By touching the man with the skin-condition, Jesus has broken the Law.  The Book of Leviticus further prescribes that anyone who touches anything made unclean by a dead body, or who has a seminal discharge… remains unclean until evening… (Lev 22:4).  Yet, Jesus feels the need to touch him physically so as to offer the man his dignity as a human person. The man now enjoys intra-personal wellbeing – his personal dignity is re-established.

Human touch is one of the first ways of communication that we ever learnt as babies.  A touch could mean reassurance, care, and encouragement.  Jesus is not sparing in the use of touch as a way of communicating.  There is an abundance of instances, particularly in the Gospel of Mark, where Jesus reaches out and touches people, or allows people to touch him (Mk 1:31, 1:41; 3:10, 5:27-34;5:41; 6:56; 7:33; 8:22-23; 10:13-16). His compassionate touch offers people their dignity!

Having cured the man, Jesus now orders him to go and show himself to the priest as prescribed by the Law (Lev 14).  In this case, by showing himself to the priests the man will be allowed to go back to his family and people.  Thus his social wellbeing will be re-established. The man now enjoys interpersonal wellbeings.

Supra-Personal / Inner personal Wellbeing: In the Book of Numbers, when Aaron and Miriam had criticised their brother Moses over his marriage with a Cushite woman,  Yahweh’s anger was kindled, and Miriam was struck with a virulent-skin disease (Num 12:1-10). So, skin-disease, in fact, sickness as such, was seen as a punishment from God for human sin. Jesus categorically denies this causal connection between sin and sickness, as we see, for instance, in the story of the blind man in John 9.  And here in Mark, Jesus asks the man to make the offering for his healing to assure him that he is not cursed by God.  The man’s relationship with God is re-established.  Jesus’ healing of the man mediates spiritual wellbeing or supra-personal wellbeing.

Having had a deep encounter with Jesus, having experienced this three-fold healing, and having been made whole again, how could the man be silent about it?  He had to break the order of Jesus. “He started talking about it freely and telling the story everywhere…” (Mk 1:45).

Practical Applications: 1) Let us learn to respect the dignity of human being. People with limitations, deformities, differences, less beautiful, less fortunate, less educated, less abilities, are all human beings. Gods creations. It seems imperative that a kind act to anyone has to respect their social and cultural context. Otherwise, it runs the risk of alienating them even further. 

Introduction : Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time:

Message:    Jesus manifests the powerful, healing love of God by curing the leper who was forced to live under severe restrictions by Jewish legislation.  He turned to Jesus in his need and was filled with joy.  We are called to imitate the healing and compassionate Jesus.

Saints and Events in this week:  16 – Sixteenth – Monday – Presidents day; 17 – Seventeenth – Tuesday – The Seven Holy Founders of the Servite Order.  18 – Eighteenth – Wednesday – Ash Wednesday; Day of fasting and abstinence; 21 – Twenty First – Saturday – Saint Peter Damian, Bishop, Doctor of the Church;