12 February 2012, Sunday
Gospel: Mk 1:40-45
The Cleansing of a Leper
A leper came to him and pleaded on his knees: ‘If you want to’ he said ‘you can cure me’. Feeling sorry for him, Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him. ‘Of course I want to!’ he said. ‘Be cured!’ And the leprosy left him at once and he was cured. Jesus immediately sent him away and sternly ordered him, ‘Mind you say nothing to anyone, but go and show yourself to the priest, and make the offering for your healing prescribed by Moses as evidence of your recovery’. The man went away, but then started talking about it freely and telling the story everywhere, so that Jesus could no longer go openly into any town, but had to stay outside in places where nobody lived. Even so, people from all around would come to him.
Reflection
Our modern world presents us with a different type of leprosy; one that attacks our hearts. It is the consequence of suppressing our sufferings, of subscribing to worldly values over Christ’s. It is a leprosy that “eats” away our lives, our passion for life, our quality time with family and love for neighbour. It distorts our perception of a meaningful life, dilutes our moral values and drains us of our energy throughout the day at work.
We justify this leprosy and play victim of societal demands, only to be left increasingly frustrated and impatient. Instead of seeking comfort in the Healer, the easier alternative is to avoid tediously facing the root issues by taking to the pleasures of the world that were already standing by to lure us further away from God.
This type of leprosy, without physical symptoms, is difficult to notice. We may even choose to live in total indifference towards it. But if we pause in silence to courageously examine our hearts, we will gradually begin to notice the leprosy we are suffering from and when we do so, we can decide to be like this unassuming leper, whose desperation and faith led him to plead for restoration. And having been made whole again, he was filled with joy and excitement, overwhelmed with the love of God, that he was unable to contain his experience within himself. God is the Key to the door of life.
How have you been a leper?
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