Sixth Sunday of the Year: B: February 11, 2024

                 JESUS HEALS A LEPER

First Reading: Leviticus 13: 1-2 and 44-48

Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 10: 31 to 11: 1

Gospel Reading: Mark 1: 40-45

   *First reading is from the book of Leviticus. The wretched and inhuman conditions of the lepers in the Old Testament times are described in detail. During those days, leprosy was considered incurable and made a person physically, mentally and socially an outcast from the society. He/she faced excommunication from the community. As long as the disease lasted,  lepers were forced to stay out of their homes and live in  secluded places. Ritually also, lepers were considered unclean and they were forced to live far away from any human habitations. 

   *Second reading is from the first letter of St. Paul to Corinthians. Paul urges Christians in Corinth not to offend anyone but to do good to everyone at all times. He reminds the Christian community at Corinth and all of us that in whatever we do we have to give glory to God the Father. He gives his own example and reminds us that he gives glory to God by being a perfect imitator of Jesus Christ and does everything for the good of others. 

"I will; be clean."                                                                            Today's Gospel reading is from St. Mark. It narrates the dramatic way Jesus heals a leper. This man implores Jesus to heal him of his leprosy. Immediately, Jesus stretches out his hand, touches him and heals him. The leprosy mentioned in the Gospel symbolizes all the external and internal illnesses that we suffer from. While healing the leper, Jesus does the unthinkable for a Jew of that time to do. He reaches out and touches this suffering man. Jesus could very well heal the man without touching him. But by this action, Jesus gives him dignity and shows that this leper too is very precious in the eyes of God. By His touch and consoling words, Jesus not only heals the wounds and pains of leprosy but also the wounds caused by rejection and alienation which are inflicted on him by the community. St. Damien of Molokai is a prime example of a person who tried to emulate Jesus by his love, compassion, concern and care for lepers. After working several years for the well-being of lepers, he too contracted leprosy and died of leprosy. The following words are written on his tomb: "Love never fails." - 1 Corinthians 13:8

"The biggest disease today is not leprosy or tuberculosis but rather the feeling of being unwanted." - St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta