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WSC REFLECTION GUIDE

Readings: Leviticus 13:1-2, 44-46 6th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Psalm 32:1-2, 5, 11 February 15, 2009
1 Corinthians 10:31 – 11:1
Mark 1:40-45

Word: The authority and word of Jesus Christ heal and renew our life.
Theme: Jesus Christ heals and renews our life when we reach out to and
care for the poor and the marginalized. [Salvation]
Promise: “Blessed is he whose fault is taken away, whose sin is covered.”
(Psalm 32: 1)

Reflection:

In the Gospel of Mark, when the leper came to Jesus to be cured, he was really out of line. He
violated the number one rule that governs his situation, that is, to live in exile and be away from
places where people gather. And rather than talking to Jesus and asking for help, he should
instead be shouting, ‘unclean, unclean!’ to warn people away. Leprosy gravely disfigures its
victims, forces them to live in the desert, away from family and friends, making them unfit for
public worship.

But Jesus, not only welcomed the leper, he reached out and touched him. He was not repulsed
by this disfigured person. More than this, Jesus invoked an authority higher than that of the
levitical law - anyone who touched a leper is rendered levitically unclean, which meant that he is
unfit to join public worship. Jesus rejected this legislation and by doing so, He actually declared
that charity is higher than any law. And, Jesus then instructed the man, “See, that you don’t
tell this to anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the sacrifices that
Moses commanded for your cleansing, as a testimony to them.” (v.43-44)

“See that you don’t tell this to anyone”. Jesus was telling the man: do not boast in your
cleansing. Guard against pride, against feeling that God is partial to you, and that you are
God’s favorite, more special than anyone else. Apparently, there was something in the heart
of this man that tends towards pride.

“Go….show yourself to the priest”. Jesus demands this for three reasons:
• The man needed to obey the law, for he was not above the law. He was to live
righteously just as the law demanded. Jesus did not annul or do away with the law. He
fulfilled the law; therefore, He is more than the law. The man was being taught to obey
the law and more - he was being taught to obey Jesus; his obedience, his righteous
act was to be his primary witness, his final act of obedience.
• The man must be acknowledged by everyone as cleansed. People would not accept
him until they knew he was clean and the priest had pronounced him cleansed.
• The priest needed to testify to the divine power of Jesus. All the people knew that only
God could cure leprosy. By pronouncing that the man is cleansed, the priest is
declaring Jesus to be the Son of God, the Messiah. (cp. Lev 14:2-20)
 2

But we know what happened; the leper disobeyed Jesus and goes his own way. Thinking he
knows better than Jesus, the leper sees no reason why he should not make his healing well
known. He tells everyone his good news. As a consequence, Jesus is no longer able to enter
towns openly. There were so many people that would come to Him, making it impossible for
Him to minister to them. He had to leave because the crowds were just too large.

A spiritual application that we need to ponder in our hearts is this: when we disobey Christ,
Christ is forced to withdraw. His presence is no longer sensed by us or seen by our associates
in us. It is as though He is forced to a lonely, unpopulated place. By our disobedience, imagine
the many people who are not helped because Jesus is forced to withdraw to a lonely,
unpopulated place!

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, in times I do not understand Your command. Sometimes, I consider Your command
difficult and impossible. Help me to listen and help me to obey. Even if it is beyond me to see
the grave results of my disobedience, help me to always think of this incident from the Gospel of
Mark, that the consequences of my disobedience are too terrible, that may destroy lives, by
losing my witnessing in You, the Good News of my salvation!

Suggested Personal Reflection Guide:

1. What were some circumstances in my life as a Disciple of Christ when I missed an

opportunity to witness to the saving and healing power of Christ, because I did not
obey Christ’s bidding in my heart?
2. How many times did I boast about my own good news of healing or my own personal
encounter with Christ, rather than becoming a witness for the healing and actions of
Christ in my life?
3. How can I make myself obedient to Christ in all circumstances of my life?

Next Week’s Daily Mass Reading Guide:

February 16, 2009 (Mon):
February 17, 2009 (Tue):
February 18, 2009 (Wed):
February 19, 2009 (Thurs):
February 20, 2009 (Fri):
February 21, 2009 (Sat):
Gen 4:1-15, 25; Ps 50:1, 8, 16-17, 20-21; Mk 8:11-13
Gen 6:8-8, 7:1-5, 10; Ps 29:1-4, 9-10; Mk 8:14-21
Gen 8:6-13, 20-22; Ps 116:12-15, 18-19; Mk 8:22-26
Gen 9:1-13; Ps 102:16-18, 19-21, 22-23, 29; Mk 8:27-33
Gen 11:1-9; Ps 33:10-15; Mk 8:37-9:1
Heb 11:1-7; Ps 145:2-5, 10-11; Mk 9:2-13

This Week’s Readings for Year of St. Paul:

Book of Galatians Chapters 3 – 4

“Ignorance of the Bible is ignorance of Christ. Read your Bible daily!”