6th Sunday in Ordinary Time
This Sunday we celebrate the 6th Sunday of ordinary time which is also the feast day of Our Lady of Lourdes. We remember in a special way all those who are sick and infirm for whatever reason and we pray for their healing. Then on Wednesday we begin the Holy Season of Lent with the ashes and we hear once again the call to repent and believe the good news as we begin Lent for 2024. It is a time when we reflect on our spiritual lives and how we can renew themIn the first reading the Lord told Moses and Aaron what to do about potential leprosy, this required priestly examination and, if confirmed, the person concerned was declared unclean. Afflicted individuals had to signify their condition by their appearance, vocalize their unclean status, and live in isolation, highlighting the seriousness with which leprosy was treated. The treatment of lepers, as spelled out in the Book of Leviticus today, seems harsh. But let’s not demonize the Israelites. With little understanding of the cause of leprosy, but noticing its awful consequences on the bodies of its victims, the community was frightened of contagion. To keep themselves and their families safe they isolated the sufferers.
In the Second Reading from Corinthians St. Paul tells us that In everything, even in eating and drinking, we should aim to honour God. He tells us to avoid causing offense by what you do and say and seek the good of many for salvation. Today we too are called to follow the example of St. Paul as he followed Christ’s own example so should we. In the Gospel for this weekend the leper’s plea for healing was met with Jesus’ compassionate touch and affirmation, leading to immediate cleansing. Despite Jesus’ directive for discretion and adherence to Mosaic law for verification, the healed man publicized his miracle, complicating Jesus’ public ministry. Our Gospel story is about much more than just the healing, it is about the faith that the leper had in Jesus. It is also about the faith we have in Jesus. After he heals him Jesus tells the man to be silent. The man is to go first to the priests and go through the ritual cleansing prescribed in Leviticus (14:1ff.) Maybe the priests would ask the man how he was cured and then they would hear about Jesus. Who better to give witness to Jesus than someone whose life has been changed by him? Who better to witness to the strength, joy, encouragement, hope and direction that Jesus gives than one who has been transformed by him? Do we allow ourselves to be transformed by the compassion and words of Jesus in order to show his compassion to others?
The man who Jesus cured proclaimed and spread the word and he brought others to faith even though he was told not to tell anyone. Word of Jesus power preceded him and the people brought all those who needed healing to him. In fact so many people came from every place in Galilee that Jesus could not travel in the open for fear of the crowd. Aware of our need for healing, we, too, can take the initiative by approaching Jesus. We will be met with compassion and love. We can be restored to our rightful place as beloved sons and daughters. We, too, can tell the story of what God has done for us in our lives. May we share the healed man’s enthusiasm to make known the goodness and the love of God. Next Wednesday with the Ashes and the call to be faithful to the Gospel we begin the season of lent with all the opportunities it provides for renewal of our spiritual lives. Let us pray for a spirit of understanding and renewal as we journey through Lent to the celebration of Holy Week and Easter so that we can say with the psalmist Lord you are my refuge and you turned my distress into the joy of salvation.
Fullerton T 