SIXTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
Also Read: Mass Readings for 14 Feb 2021
First Reading: Leviticus 13: 1-2, 44-46
The Rules for leprous people.
(v.45) “The person who has the leprous disease shall wear torn clothes and let the hair of his head be disheveled; and he shall cover his upper lip and cry out, “Unclean, unclean.”
Chapters 13-14 in the book of Leviticus give an account of all the rules and procedures to be followed by leprous people. GOD speaks to Moses and Aaron and gives them these instructions beginning in verses 13:1-2. Here the affected person must come to Aaron or one of his sons, the priests, and show themselves. There seems to be a certain sense of resonance in the sacrament of the reconciliation here; just as we go to the priest with our wounded and contrite hearts! When the priest recommends a penance to us in the confessional, we ought to follow the same in faith.
Then in (v.45), it is very interesting to see how the person must proclaim his uncleanliness to others around too! Therefore when our hearts are diseased with any sort of sin, it is apt that we proclaim our unworthiness before the LORD and his people. (For e.g.) By attending the Holy Eucharist in faith and with a repentant spirit.
Amen!
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 32: 1-2, 5, 11 (7)
(v.5) “Then I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not hide my iniquity; I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD, and you forgave the guilt of my sin.”
May we believe and repent with a contrite heart, so that we do not repeat the same offenses! Amen!
Second Reading: First Corinthians 10: 31 – 11: 1
1Cor 10: 31 “So whatever you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for the Glory of GOD.”
So, then picking up from the first reading today, if we are truly repentant; we will renew our minds and our ways. It is an ongoing process and no single person can vouch for having accomplished this perfectly! -Because we are human, we will have shortcomings! But we are to persistently show our repentance in our active daily living! We need to then turn our minds and thoughts over to The Holy Spirit to help us walk in this renewed way of life!
1Cor 10: 32 “Give no offense to anyone, do not seek your own advantage but the advantage of many, so they may be saved.”
Now, this is a tough call; agreed! But we as true disciples of Christ, ought to endeavor in this regard. Through the promptings of the Holy Spirit and the intercession of Our Dear Mother Mary; we will!
1Cor 11 : 1 “Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.”
“Imitating Christ?” super tough! -If we rely solely on our own strength! In everything submit to GOD and HE will lay straight the paths for you!! See Prov 3: 5-6!
Yes, we can Dear Brothers and Sisters; because we are in the likeness and image of GOD! (Gen 1:27) Amen!
Gospel: Mark 1: 40-45
JESUS cleanses a leper.
“Moved with pity, JESUS stretched out his hand and touched him, and said to him, “I do choose. Be made clean!” (v.41)
Would the leper have asked for forgiveness? Would JESUS have ‘Seen’ his contrite heart? The passage doesn’t mention here! The same miracle is accounted for in Mt. 8:1-4 and Luke 5:12-16, but there isn’t any specific mention about the man asking for mercy in those texts either! Yet, there seems to be an underlying message of repentance in his pleading for deliverance.
“Jesus saying to him, “See that you say nothing to anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest, and offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.” (v.44)
When HE had already cleansed him; WHY does Christ JESUS tell him to go to the priest!?? Christ also tells him to follow the standard norms of purification! -So that GOD’S Word is fulfilled, and Christ obeys GOD’S commandment given in Leviticus 13:2 !! It is truly amazing how Christ shows us the way! There was a system in place at that time as a standard practice of purification and Christ directs this healed man towards it! Therefore, God has set our rules and procedures to maintain order in our lives! We ought to adhere to them!
“But he went out and began to proclaim it freely, and to spread the word…”
Have we been healed in any area of our lives; Spiritually or otherwise?! We must follow this healed leper in his proclamation! In the First Reading, we hear how lepers used to proclaim they were unclean (Leviticus13:45); whereas here, the healed man now goes about proclaiming his cleansing! There would have been an immeasurable joy in his steps as he ran to the priests! On the way, he would have been testifying with his words and recounting his cleansing! It would have been quite an event!
How do we thank the LORD for HIS great mercies on us? Have we not been healed? This faith that we carry inside of us, is it not spiritual healing? Unless we have been designed by the Highest GOD, we would never have turned our steps to HIM! As St. Paul tells us then, (1Cor 10:31) Can we show our gratitude to God for this great favor? Yes, we can! By our every word and action in our own daily lives, we must persevere in giving GOD the Glory HE is due! By doing what is just and right and good!
So then, just like we would have grumbled earlier about our lot; now that we have been redeemed, we ought to freely testify to our blessings daily! Amen!
Thank You LORD, Praise GOD!
Praise GOD! 🙏