First Reading: Leviticus 13:1-2, 44-46
Reflection:
In this Sunday’s first reading we hear the Mosaic law being given regarding lepers. Those who had a skin disease were to be ostracized from the society. They were declared “unclean” and made to live “outside the camp.” Why such a harsh punishment? First, it makes sense for medical reasons. Lepers were, in essence, quarantined as to not spread their disease to others. Leprosy was incurable and most often deadly. Lepers were, therefore, separated from society in order to prevent its spreading. The priests were the adjudicators in determining whether or not someone was clean or unclean. This role fell to them as the representatives (or mediators) for God to men. Not only were they declaring someone medically “unclean” but there was a spiritual component too. In the Old Testament, illness was most often connected with sin. People who came down with leprosy, for example, were looked upon as having done something wrong to deserve that disease. They were, therefore, not only medically “unclean” but also spiritually so. This is why, as we’ll see in the Gospel reading, lepers could not participate in the liturgical worship of the nation of Israel. It is also why they were commanded to “keep his garments rent and his head bare, and shall muffle his beard.” These are all signs of penance. We’ll see in the Gospel how Jesus responds to a leper.
Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 10:31-11:1
Reflection:
The Apostle Paul exhorts us, “Whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God.” Have you ever thought that everything in life has a spiritual component to it? Our faith is not simply what we do on Sunday morning. It is not merely one part of many other parts of our life. Rather, our faith should be integrated into everything we do. Whether we are at work, or at the gym, or doing the dishes, or taking our kids to baseball practice, or eating breakfast, or…the list goes on…we can “do everything for the glory of God.” The only thing we can’t glorify God in is sin. As long as we are not sinning in what we’re doing, we can glorify God in it. Therefore, let us offer up all our activities to God and seek Him in even the most mundane tasks. God wants all of us and He wants to be a part of everything we do. Let us, thus, invite him into our everyday lives. The upcoming season of Lent is a perfect time to re-commit to glorify God in day-to-day activities.
Gospel Reading: Mark 1:40-45
Reflection:
We saw in this Sunday’s first reading how lepers were to be treated according to the Mosaic law. They were unclean and ostracized from society. No one was to come into contact with them for fear of contracting the disease. In fact, if anyone touched a leper, he or she would be automatically declared unclean (even if they did not contract the disease). Jesus showed His authority over the Mosaic law and over leprosy itself by cleansing this leper. Jesus reached across the void that separated the leper from society, doing the unthinkable by touching the man. Jesus’ action was a response to the man’s faith, for it was the leper who first reached out to Jesus and believed that Jesus could heal him. Jesus saw his human dignity and had compassion on him. His act of touching the leper had the opposite effect of what should have occurred according to the Mosaic law. Rather than the leper making Jesus unclean, Jesus made the leper clean. All Jesus did was touch the man and say, “Be made clean,” and the leprosy left him. This evidences Jesus’ profound power.
As we have seen in recent Gospel readings, Jesus was revealing Himself to be God in the flesh by speaking and acting with divine authority. Yet, Jesus commanded the man to keep this miracle a secret. Why? Although Jesus was revealing Himself, He knew that it was too soon for a full scale disclosure of His identity. Jesus did not want a riot or people to become sensationalized by His miracles. He knew that too much talk would actually hinder His ministry initially because He wouldn’t be able to effectively preach if there was too much sensation around His message. We, in fact, see this being the result of the healed man not heeding Jesus’ words and telling everyone anyway. As a result, “it was impossible for Jesus to enter a town openly.” Regardless, we can imitate the man’s enthusiasm about sharing what Jesus has done in our own lives. Jesus brings healing to us. Encounters with Jesus never leave us the same. Let us spread with joy and enthusiasm the wonderful things Jesus has done for us.
Application:
As we prepare for Lent, consider what you can give up in order to be drawn closer to Jesus. Then, prayerfully choose what practice to take up to help you integrate your faith into your daily life. Keep in mind, in particular, the three practices we emphasize during Lent: prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. How can you re-commit to each of these practices this Lent?
