6th Sunday in Ordinary Time Feb. 15, 2009 (Mk 1:40-45)
A leper came to Jesus 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.
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.
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.
Lepers are considered as unclean people. In the Old Testament, when they pass the streets, they should shout, "Unclean! Unclean!" In the Gospel today, Jesus is approached by one of these unclean lepers. The leper knelt down before Him and said, "If you wish you, can make me clean."
The leper, more or less, has an idea of who Jesus was. He might not have known that Jesus was the Son of God. But he knew that the one before Him was greater than him, a man of God. He did not demand Jesus' healing as if he had all the right to receive it. Instead, he prayed to Jesus in a way similar to how Mary humbly said yes to God. The leper said, "If you wish..."
This man is suffering from leprosy and he obviously needs healing, yet he went to Jesus saying, "If you wish..."! It is very common for us to pray for things that we need or want. But how often do we start our prayer with "If you wish..."? We must not pray to God, demanding everything that we are praying for. We must surrender our will to His perfect will. We must let Him decide what's best for us. After all, our Father knows best!
The leper, more or less, has an idea of who Jesus was. He might not have known that Jesus was the Son of God. But he knew that the one before Him was greater than him, a man of God. He did not demand Jesus' healing as if he had all the right to receive it. Instead, he prayed to Jesus in a way similar to how Mary humbly said yes to God. The leper said, "If you wish..."
This man is suffering from leprosy and he obviously needs healing, yet he went to Jesus saying, "If you wish..."! It is very common for us to pray for things that we need or want. But how often do we start our prayer with "If you wish..."? We must not pray to God, demanding everything that we are praying for. We must surrender our will to His perfect will. We must let Him decide what's best for us. After all, our Father knows best!
After beginning his prayer with a complete surrender to the will of Jesus, the leper asked for cleansing. We might not be all leprous. But the truth is, everyone of us has an uncleanliness. This uncleanliness is due to the fact that all have sinned (Rom 3:23). Whatever personal sins we have committed, however small, they are still sins and are, thus, uncleanliness. We need to acknowledge this uncleanliness so that we might allow God to cleanse us. The proud people who think they have no need of cleansing are not going to be cleansed. God also respects our will. We need to ask for cleansing, and this presupposes that we acknowledge our uncleanliness due to sin.
In comparison, when we ask a doctor to heal us, we admit that there is something wrong with us. In the same way, we need to admit our sinfulness before God and ask for His spiritual healing in order for Him to act.
Jesus probably saw the humility and the great faith of this leper that He granted his prayer immediately. After healing the leper, Jesus warned Him not to tell anyone about it. Instead, He instructed him to do what Moses prescribed for the cleansing rites of a leper. Why doesn't Jesus want His miracles to be broadcasted? It's simple really. Jesus wanted followers who would come to Him because of faith, not because of the longing for a miracle. Jesus wanted not fame, but faith. He was more concerned with the healing of the body and soul of a person.
But, indeed, how can the joyful ex-leper not proclaim the great miracle done to Him? It is but natural for us to spread the great joy we feel. It cannot be controlled, sometimes. Nevertheless, we still need to follow what is proper. In the case of the leper, he should have obeyed Jesus. It was the least he can do to show gratefulness.
Nevertheless, like the leper, we are invited to pray with an "If you wish" attitude before God. We need to submit ourselves to His wisdom. We must also admit our need of God in order for Him to work in our lives. We must invoke His presence. We should acknowledge the fact that we failed as sons and daughters of God and, at the same time, promise to do a better job as a child of God.
Father, if You wish, you can make us clean!
In comparison, when we ask a doctor to heal us, we admit that there is something wrong with us. In the same way, we need to admit our sinfulness before God and ask for His spiritual healing in order for Him to act.
Jesus probably saw the humility and the great faith of this leper that He granted his prayer immediately. After healing the leper, Jesus warned Him not to tell anyone about it. Instead, He instructed him to do what Moses prescribed for the cleansing rites of a leper. Why doesn't Jesus want His miracles to be broadcasted? It's simple really. Jesus wanted followers who would come to Him because of faith, not because of the longing for a miracle. Jesus wanted not fame, but faith. He was more concerned with the healing of the body and soul of a person.
But, indeed, how can the joyful ex-leper not proclaim the great miracle done to Him? It is but natural for us to spread the great joy we feel. It cannot be controlled, sometimes. Nevertheless, we still need to follow what is proper. In the case of the leper, he should have obeyed Jesus. It was the least he can do to show gratefulness.
Nevertheless, like the leper, we are invited to pray with an "If you wish" attitude before God. We need to submit ourselves to His wisdom. We must also admit our need of God in order for Him to work in our lives. We must invoke His presence. We should acknowledge the fact that we failed as sons and daughters of God and, at the same time, promise to do a better job as a child of God.
Father, if You wish, you can make us clean!
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