Sixth
Sunday of Ordinary Time (B) [Mk 1:40-45]
11.02.2024
Jesus
Cleanses a Leper
1. Theme in brief
Liberation from our spiritual leprosy
2. Focus Statement
Deeply moved with compassion
and concern, Jesus touches our hearts when we cry to him to be healed – just as
he did to the leper in his day even by breaking the Jewish Law.
3. Explanation of
the text
Leprosy
in Jesus' day referred to any of the skin-diseases that were considered
ritually or ceremonially unclean
in
Jewish society and religion. In his pre-scientific age it was the most feared
disease and was considered to be highly contagious. As per Jewish Law,
such people were treated as social and religious outcasts and were not permitted to
take part in the religious life of the community ( see Lev 13:45-46). They were segregated from the community and made
to live in tents outside villages and towns. They
were required to cry out "unclean, unclean" to people who passed by so that they would stay far away
from them. Touching
them was a greater taboo because of the fear of contagion. If ever they got
cured, a priest had to declare it and restore them to social
and religious communion after their offering of a sacrifice
to God in thanksgiving. Leprosy was considered to be a punishment for one’s
sins. Therefore they were held personally responsible for their own
illness and affliction, that is, suffering for their own wrongdoings. Today’s
gospel text tells us how a personally, socially and religiously despised and rejected leprosy
patient was rendered holistic
liberation by Jesus.
The desperation and anxiety of the leper mentioned in today’s gospel is reflected in
the way he approached Jesus. Though he was forbidden by law to go
close to healthy persons, he was courageously proactive and daring in his approach
to Jesus. He came to him with great humility, kneeling before and
begging him to cleanse him from his dreaded skin-disease (1:40). Secondly, the
text implies that he firmly believed and trusted in Jesus’ power to
cleanse or heal him. That is why he said, “You can make me clean” (1:40); or in
other words, you have the power to cleanse me.
Thirdly, by saying, “Only if you choose or if you are willing to make me clean,
you can” (1:40), he submitted
himself
into Jesus’ hands, He begged Jesus to heal him only if he willed/ wanted/
wished. Though he had no doubt about Jesus’ power to heal him, he was not sure in
his case whether Jesus would be willing to heal him or use his power. We can note here how a deep profession
of faith and a humble submission or resignation
to God’s will are the two pillars on which the healing process rests.
Further,
the text tells us how the misery and suffering
of the leper as well as his trust in Jesus
made him an object of Jesus’ compassion. The strong
Greek word used for “being moved” (in 1:41) implies that he was deeply and
emotionally moved with pity within the
core of his
being. With all the tenderness, Jesus stretched out his hand and touched
him by saying: “I do choose (I am willing or I
want to); be clean” (1:41). Here we see how both the leper as well as Jesus
dared to break social and religious taboos
which
will have drastic consequences in Jewish society: the former by going so close
to Jesus and the latter by touching the ‘untouchable.’ What is implied
here is that Jesus willingly (readily) granted a wonderful favour to the sick
person who submitted himself to his will. We notice how his
leprosy vanished immediately (instantly) at the power of his touch as well
as the power of his word (1:42).
Jesus
sternly warned the leper to keep the fact of his healing a top secret (1:44)
because he was afraid that people might misunderstand him as a wonder-worker or a
political Messiah. Then they would fail to understand his mission to suffer and die
on the cross. But the leper’s disobedience to Jesus’ command to maintain
secrecy is an indication that those who experienced healing touch could not but
proclaim his mercy
(1:45).
4. Application to life
Today’s gospel invites us to identify ourselves both with the
leper referred in it and Jesus the holistic Healer. The former application
leads us to the discovery of areas of uncleanness in our life and to examine the
sins, habits, addictions, attitudes and behaviour that cut us off from God and community.
The latter application makes us realize how, as Jesus' disciples, we can
continue his mission of reaching out to the rejected, the despised and those who are
cut off from community with our healing touch.
For Jesus, physical healing (in this case healing
of leprosy) was only an external sign of spiritual or inner healing. Therefore,
cleansing the leper is a sign to tell us that he has the power to heal and liberate
us from our inner or spiritual leprosy. This holistic healing ministry of
Jesus is very much related to his purpose of coming into the world, that is, to
establish God’s Rule (Kingdom). People could experience God’s rule of love by his
concern for the holistic health of those who suffered from the evil of sin that
separated
them from God and neighbours, and sickness such as leprosy that segregated/ isolated
them from their community. He wanted to give the message that God had sent him
with power over evil so that he could liberate people from its fetters with his
deep compassion.
Today, what are the conditions/ situations
that can be termed as our spiritual leprosy?
(1) Our
sins:
They keep us estranged and isolated (as lepers
in those days experienced) from the love of God and neighbours. They create scars in our relationships and bring us as much misery as
physical ailments such as leprosy. Every serious sin is a soul-sickness; it is like leprosy that causes loneliness, isolation, lovelessness and scars on our character. Once
separated from God we plunge into darkness and get cut
off from the source of life and goodness. Our ungodly ways wound the Church so much and create blots on her holiness.
(2) Compulsive
habits or addictions: When a bad habit turns into an
addition, it gradually destroys our personality
like the bacteria that destroys nerves and flesh in a leper. From ancient days
till today people continue to get addicted to alcohol, gambling, cockfight, sex,
drugs and other substances. But nowadays, the danger of newer forms of
addictions is so much that we may have to post a signboard on our doorpost or
desk: “Beware of addiction to TV serials/ mobile phone/ video games/ computer/
internet/ overeating!’’ When we become victims of addictions, we become
incapable of loving others and fulfilling our family and social obligations.
Like the lepers in Jesus’ days, who were banished from the society, we too
become estranged
from the love of our near and dear ones. Others may begin to treat us like
lepers because of the scars created in our relationships and conduct. Thus, like
the lepers in Jesus’ days, addictions make us personally, socially and
religiously despised and rejected.
(3) Negativity: Suppose
we are constantly and mercilessly pouring negativity (such as fear, hatred, anger,
destructive criticism, resentment, revenge, jealousy) into our subconscious
mind, it becomes a dumping ground for this negative stuff. All these
negative emotions stored in our subconscious mind jump back and create negative
currents in the form of impulses, urges, obsessions, bitterness,
depression, sulking, etc. They also can create a great deal of tension
and over-anxiety in us. Is it not true that negative thinking (especially when
it becomes compulsive) makes our mind restless and impure? Does it not steal joy and
happiness from us? Therefore, we are badly in need of a spiritual cleansing
of our mind more than before.
We need to identify our own spiritual leprosy. Once we admit our
spiritual and psychological leprosy, we can also follow the steps
followed by this leper to receive holistic healing from Jesus: (1) to approach Jesus
with the same humility
by falling on our knees, confessing our sins before him and begging him to cleanse
us; (2) to place our full faith and trust
in his healing power;
(3) to submit
or surrender ourselves totally to his holy will; (4) to humbly beg him with our
petitions
to cleanse and heal us. We must allow him to touch our hearts. Just as he was
deeply and emotionally moved with compassion within the core
of his being at the miserable condition of the leper in his time, today also,
will he not be moved
at our sinful condition/ addictive behaviour/ negative mind-set and touch us? Deeply
moved with compassion and concern, Jesus touches our hearts when we cry to him
to be healed from our spiritual ‘leprosy’ – just as he did to the leper in his
day by breaking the Jewish Law.
Secondly, if ever any of us has fallen into the trap
of any of the addictions mentioned above, the healing process can become really
painful
and hard. It is only by undertaking a long spiritual journey of humble admission of
our helplessness,
placing our total trust
in the healing power of Jesus and entrusting our life to his care with a cry,
“If you will, you can make me clean,” and begging for forgiveness
from God and neighbours with a repentant heart, we can be healed. By healing us Jesus restores
us to a full communion with God and our community.
Thirdly, if we are affected by the poison of negativity, we need
to continually plead with Jesus to purify
our polluted minds and cleanse us from this poison. We should continually
monitor our thoughts and forcibly substitute
every negative thought with a positive
thought. We need to plead with Jesus repeatedly: “Lord, if you will, cleanse my
negative mind-set.”
As Jesus came to render holistic health, we should be
concerned not only about physical healing, but also spiritual healing of our
sins and its evil effects. He has the power to heal us from the possibility of drooping
into depression, sadness, frustration and hopelessness when sometimes our
physical ailments are not healed. He stands by us to help us accept
our illness if it is God’s will. Just as the leper begged, we too can plead
with him trusting fully in his healing power: “If it is your will, you take this
illness or suffering from me; if not, let me take it; but just give me your
grace.” Besides begging for mercy, we must submit or surrender
ourselves fully at his feet and request him to do what he wants with us. Once
touched and healed by him we too can proclaim our experience of restoration of
holistic health (as the leper did in spite of being forbidden), which in turn will
become a testimony
of our faith.
This passage should motivate us to bring holistic health to those who
are alienated, isolated or separated from God and human society due to sin,
crime, addictions and any other wrongdoing. Giving human dignity to those whom society
considers outcasts and restoring their dignity should be one of our concerns. Today, the conditions of the poor, the
physically and mentally challenged, the victims of HIV and AIDS, the Dalits (in
India) who suffer from untouchability and social segregation, etc., are like that of the
leprosy patient of today’s gospel. Many people do not want to get close to
these people. They refuse to stretch out our hands and touch their lives, as
Jesus did. They do not want to take any risk to bring them acceptance. Like
Jesus who had to become like a ‘leper’ (outcast) by healing a leper and could
not go into a town openly, we too may have to face rejection if we ‘touch’
(deal with) this kind of people. Today’s gospel-message should motivate us to
enter into the pain of such marginalized people and stretch out our hands like Jesus, or reach out
to them with our service. Let us regret for the times we held back our hands
instead of extending them towards such people.
5. Response to God's Word
What are the areas of uncleanness in our life such as habitual sins, compulsive
habits, addictions, and negative attitudes that cut us off from God and
community? Are there symptoms of addictions to TV shows/ mobile phone/ video
games/ computer/ internet/ overeating such as total dependency on them and
mental obsession causing restlessness when we are away from them? Do we
consciously try to cleanse our negative mind-set? Do we follow the steps
followed by the leper in today’s text to get a healing touch from Jesus? How
can we reach out to the rejected, the despised and those who are cut off from
community with our healing touch? Do we want to stretch out our hands towards social
outcasts and underprivileged people, or hold them back?
6. A prayer
Lord Jesus, I am an unclean person in mind and spirit. Kindly look at my
miserable condition and show your boundless mercy towards me. I humbly fall on
my knees and beg you to cleanse me. I place my full faith in you and trust in
your healing power. I submit myself totally to your holy will. O Divine Healer,
if you will, you can make me clean. Touch my heart; cleanse me and heal me
wholly. Amen.
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