Cycle B - Year I:  

14 February 2021: Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time

(Liturgical Color: Green)

Readings:

First Reading:        Leviticus 13:1-2, 44-46

Second Reading:   1 Corinthians 10:31--11:1

Gospel:  Please Read  Mark 1:40-45

"Lord, heal and cleanse us....!"

 We are now entering the second year of the coronavirus pandemic, which severely affects everyone of us, the rich and the poor, the powerful and weak nations.  The pandemic forces us to re-think our values and priorities and go back to the basics.  For nothing that we used to value in this life has any meaning and usefulness in the face of sudden death.

The sick, elderly and the poor are most vulnerable during this pandemic as they may not always have access to healthcare.

On the 29th World Day of the Sick, Pope Francis called the world's attention that the current pandemic has exacerbated inequalities in our healthcare systems and exposed inefficiencies in the care of the sick, elderly, the weak, and other vulnerable people in society.  While the world is in deep health crisis, it is hard and challenging especially for the sick.

The Gospel narrative of St. Mark presents the moving story of Jesus healing the leper who "kneeling down begged him and said: 'If you wish, you can heal me.' " (Mk 1:40)

In Jesus' time lepers were outcasts of society.  Consider a leper in our Lord's time, how leprosy gradually eats away at the body, how it has no cure, and how it makes a man unclean for Temple worship.  So the Jewish law forbade anyone from touching or even getting near a leper.

Yet, moved with pity Jesus did the unexpected.  He stretched out His hand, touched the leper, and granted the man his request to be cured. Jesus demonstrates the personal love, compassion, and tenderness of God in His physical touch of the sick man avoided by society.  Our Lord met the man's misery with compassion and tender kindness.  By physically touching the "untouchable" leper, Jesus communicated the love and mercy of God very powerfully in a sign that spoke more eloquently than words.

And so this incident of healing the leper shows that Jesus indeed is the One to come.  Because it is written that when the Messiah comes, the blind regain their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor.  As with all His miracles, our Lord's healing of the leper displays His divine authority. The physical healing manifests Jesus' power over the natural world.

Let us reflect further on the Gospel incident in our practical life today.

There is an intriguing parallel between leprosy and sin. Because both render us unfit for worship.  We can see leprosy as an apt image of sin because sin destroys the soul like leprosy destroys the body.

With this in mind, do we seek the Lord with expectant faith, like the leper in the Gospel story? Remember that no one who sought Jesus out was refused His help.  Even the "untouchable" and the outcasts of Jewish society found help in our Lord.  For Jesus is always ready to show us His mercy and to free us from whatever makes us unclean.  

Now, do we approach the "untouchables" and outcasts in our present society, especially those we find difficult to love?  Do we offer them mercy and help, like Jesus did to the leper?  Or do we avoid them totally?

In our time, Jesus needs our words and actions, our hands and our hearts, to continue to reach out to the lonely, to alleviate the pain, to bridge the gap that separates people.  Let us then follow the Lord's example of mercy and compassion with the leper in today's Gospel, and the rest of our brethren who need our love and care.

Going back to this pandemic, Pope Francis said that the coronavirus crisis had also revealed the heroism of a "silent multitude of men and women" caring for coronavirus patients.  He paid tribute to the "dedication and generosity of healthcare personnel, volunteers, support staff, priests, men and women religious, all of whom have helped, treated, comforted and served so many of the sick and their families with professionalism, self-giving, responsibility and love of neighbor.

The Pope ended his message for the 29th World Day of the sick by entrusting the sick and their caregiver to Mary, Mother of Mercy and Health of the Infirm: "From the Grotto of Lourdes and her many other shrines throughout the world, may she sustain our faith and hope, and help us care for one another with fraternal love."  Amen.

Today is also Valentine's Day, a day for universal love. Let us share love to one and all, especially to those who need it most. Happy Valentine's Day to all!

A blessed Sunday to us all.  And thank you for a moment with God.

Ad Jesum per Mariam!