Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time – Year B

February 13, 2009

Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time – Year B
Book of Leviticus 13,1-2.44-46.
The LORD said to Moses and Aaron,
“If someone has on his skin a scab or pustule or blotch which appears to be the sore of leprosy, he shall be brought to Aaron, the priest, or to one of the priests among his descendants,
the man is leprous and unclean, and the priest shall declare him unclean by reason of the sore on his head.
“The one who bears the sore of leprosy shall keep his garments rent and his head bare, and shall muffle his beard; he shall cry out, ‘Unclean, unclean!’
As long as the sore is on him he shall declare himself unclean, since he is in fact unclean. He shall dwell apart, making his abode outside the camp.
Psalms 32(31),1-2.5.11.
Of David. A maskil. Happy the sinner whose fault is removed, whose sin is forgiven.
Happy those to whom the LORD imputes no guilt, in whose spirit is no deceit.
Then I declared my sin to you; my guilt I did not hide. I said, “I confess my faults to the LORD,” and you took away the guilt of my sin. Selah
Be glad in the LORD and rejoice, you just; exult, all you upright of heart.
First Letter to the Corinthians 10,31-33.11,1.
So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God.
Avoid giving offense, whether to Jews or Greeks or the church of God,
just as I try to please everyone in every way, not seeking my own benefit but that of the many, that they may be saved.
Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Mark 1,40-45.
A leper came to him (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.
Then 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.
Sermon Points:
-  Jesus heals many.
- “Lepor” in the Orient means a lot at that time.
1. it can be simple curable skin affection.
2. it can be a purulent tuberculosis of the bone, commonly rotting the Finger Joints, which was difficult to be cured.
3. Then the Real “leprosy”, which is beyond “human Cure”.
any way the man in the Gospel says about a “human” being, who was “casted out” from the ” communio.
This man (no Lepor) is not allowed to be in a “communio” according to the law of Moses (we hear that in the first reading, Leviticus 13,1-2.44-46. )
Today we may call this as “inhuman”, or “discrimination”. But at that time, where these kinds of severe diseases were seen as “curse of God”, people were afraid to be in contact with these kind of people. They were not that “progressive” like we, today. They only looked for their own “salvation” and “life”. Also the fear of the “disease” too comelled them to promulagate and practice such kinds of “laws”.
- we ourself say that we are progressive, but how many are “really” in our “community”, “really related with us”? We are too having so much “laws” which are also “inhuman” and “discriminating” . We part the world in “color”, in language, in Economy, in culture, in Religion, etc… Does Jesus really want all these? How many of us can say “no, we don’t have”? I think only less. Even in the church, we do face with such kind of “laws”, which keep people away from God’s unending Mercy. What can I do as a good pastor, to bring these people to the “communio” with Men and God? How much do I work for that?
The man really courageous: he knew, he was not allowed to be in that place. Still he comes and “challenges” Jesus, yes really, so, because he asks “if you can, then heal me”.  Yes, he heard that Jesus can do such supernatural things. Now Jesus was little bit “challenged”. Jesus shows no hesitation, both to touch the man and to heal him. Really the first healing happend , when Jesus touches the poor man. He was again in “contact” with “Men” and “God” at once. He is again in the “communio”. The real “WONDER”. The second healing is only a physical one, which substitutes the first one.
- How many are really wounded, living around us. How many psychic “untouchablities” are in our World? How many find the “touch of Men and God” in their life? How many peole “can I touch like Jesus” ? How much I have done?
The healing process must be fulfilled acdording to the Law. Jesus wants to show that he is not against the law. Jesus differenciate many times from the law and do raise his voic. But here he is for that law. Why? Jesus knew, the man need the “acceptance” of the community to enjoy the “communio”. That’s why he asks the cured one to present himself to priests and bring the sacrifice. Jesus wants the man really to be a part of the community. But the man speaks about Jesus to all men. This causes later as a problem, as the Jewish Priests take Jesus as someone who is against law.
- Some time we do good deeds, but it turns to other extend. We know some peole, who do good things, but later it becomes a burden to themselves.
Jesus asks to be Merciful,
to be one with all people,
to touch the world, to bring it in to the communio of Men and God;
We are called to touch poor, discriminated people for all other men, represnting our God’s great Love and Mercy.