GOSPEL COMMENTARY MK 1:40-45
‘Be made clean’
Fr. Jack Peterson, YA
Leprosy was a hideous, dreaded disease at the time of Jesus. It was feared as much as anything in the ancient world. As a disease, it is devastating. It primarily affects the skin, the peripheral nerves, the upper respiratory tract and the eyes. It eats away at the hands, feet and face. It causes a stench and is contagious, being spread by physical contact.
In addition to the horrible, physical effects of leprosy, there were social and religious repercussions. Because it is contagious, lepers were banned from society and forced to live in colonies outside of towns and villages. Additionally, a common perspective among many Jews of the day was that leprosy was a curse from God resulting from personal sin. So, lepers were not allowed in synagogues or the temple in Jerusalem. They had to dress a certain way and yell “unclean” whenever they neared another person.
In the first chapter of Mark’s Gospel, a leper approaches Jesus, kneels down and begs Him to be made clean. This was a bold move for a leper. His actions, approaching a crowd and drawing near to a religious leader, went against all cultural and religious norms. Jesus’ response is equally as bold. The Divine Physician responds quickly and generously, “I do will it. Be made clean.” Notice the reference to cleansing: Jesus was indicating that He would offer physical cleansing/healing and spiritual cleansing, that is, forgiveness.
Next, Jesus does something completely unexpected. He stretches out His hand and touches the leper. How long had it been since the leper had been touched by another human being? How long had he gone without the gift of human touch that has the power to express care and warmth, bring healing and forgiveness, create bonds of trust and intimacy. The power of Jesus’ touch was greatly compounded by the fact that He is the Son of God who came to this earth to reveal God’s infinite love, extend God’s fathomless mercy and make an offer of abundant life to those who accept the gift of faith.
In Mark’s Gospel, Jesus brings this encounter to a common close by saying to him, “See that you tell no one anything …” Of course, the healed man “went away and began to publicize the whole matter.” He can’t hold back from sharing with the world what Jesus of Nazareth had just done for him. The Lord drew close, touched him, cleansed him of sin, removed his leprosy and sent him off to live a brand new life. He had to share the good news.
My brothers and sisters, all of us come before the Lord in a similar situation, do we not? We all stand before God, broken and hurting in certain ways, emotionally, physically and/or spiritually. Every one of us comes to Him with the curse of our sinfulness that distances us from God, and in some circumstances, actually cuts off our relationship with God. We all need Jesus to draw near, extend His hand, touch us with His healing, forgiving love, and send us back into the world with a mission of sharing His truth and love with our neighbor. “If You wish, You can make me clean.”
Fr. Peterson is assistant chaplain at Marymount University in Arlington and director of the Youth Apostles Institute in McLean.
Year B - 6th Sunday in ordinary time
Of course I want to cure you
Mark 1:40-45
40 A leper came to him begging him, and kneeling he said to him, "If you choose, you can make me clean."
41 Moved with pity, Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, and said to him, "I do choose. Be made clean!"
42 Immediately the leprosy left him, and he was made clean.
43 After sternly warning him he sent him away at once,
44 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."
45 But he went out and began to proclaim it freely, and to spread the word, so that Jesus could no longer go into a town openly, but stayed out in the country; and people came to him from every quarter. (NRSV)
Inspiration of the Holy Spirit - From the Sacred Heart of Jesus
At the time of my healing ministry, lepers were despised and rejected because people feared to be contaminated by them, in fact, they were not allowed in public places.
This poor man suffering with leprosy risked his life in order to be cured. He knelt down before me with utter humility, he knew that I had the power to heal, and yet he did not ask me directly to heal him, he said to me, "If you want to, you can make me clean."
The faith of this leper, his courage, his determination and his need to be healed touched my heart. So being moved by compassion I stretched out my hand, touched him and said to him, “Of course I want to heal you, Be made clean.”
This can be a great lesson for all of you. The first thing that will impress me before I respond with a miracle is faith. It is by faith that I granted many miracles in my time, and I continue to grant them through faith, sometimes through the faith of one who prays for another and sometimes through the faith the one in need.
Without faith there is no response from me. In fact this is the reason why many prayers are not answered. To have faith is to believe beyond doubt that I am hearing your prayer, that I have the power to respond with a miracle and that I will do what you ask me.
But faith alone does not work. It must be combined with good works, and he who approaches the Most High must do so with humility. I do not listen to any request made with an unclean heart.
In good faith you must repent of your sins before you come into my presence. You must forgive your brothers from your heart, and you must be very humble before you come to me. Cain’s offering was rejected because of his lack of respect. Any pride in your soul will block my grace, remember this.
I am the immutable God, living in unapproachable light, I have made myself accessible through my humanity so that you could come close to me and benefit from my infinite goodness.
I am full of compassion and mercy, I do not reject anyone who comes to me with a humble and contrite heart. I am the same Jesus that you see in the Holy Scriptures, I have not stopped granting miracles.
Have faith in me and you will be a witness of my power.
Author: Joseph of Jesus and Mary