The Angelus

The Angel of the Lord declared to Mary:
And she conceived of the Holy Spirit.

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of
our death. Amen.

Behold the handmaid of the Lord: Be it done unto me according to Thy word.

Hail Mary . . .

And the Word was made Flesh: And dwelt among us.

Hail Mary . . .

Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God, that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Let us pray:

Pour forth, we beseech Thee, O Lord, Thy grace into our hearts; that we, to whom the incarnation of Christ, Thy Son, was made known by the message of an angel, may by His Passion and Cross be brought to the glory of His Resurrection, through the same Christ Our Lord.

Amen.

"Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with you" (Lk 1:28)

"Blessed are you among women,
and blessed is the fruit of your womb"
(Lk 1:42).

Zenit.org

Archbishop Follo: On Begging to be purified

We gain the invitation to do as the leper who asked Christ for being purified. Then Jesus will give us health for our body and salvation for our souls and a pure heart, which harbors his love.

February 8, 2018Francesco FolloSunday Readings

Wikicommons

Roman Rite – Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time – Year B – February 11, 2018
Lv 13.1-2.45-46; Ps 32; 1Cor 10.31-11.1; Mk 1: 40-45

Ambrosian Rite
Is 54, 5-10; Ps 130; Rm 14.9-13; Lk 18: 9-14
Last Sunday after the Epiphany – called “of the forgiveness”

1) Lord, “Make me clean”

This Sunday’s Gospel passage offers us the healing of a leprosy¹ patient. The evangelist St. Mark with this miracle wants to make the listeners of his time and of today understand that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.

In fact, the leper who asks to be healed does not say “heal me”, but kneels, as one does before a Lord and begs him saying: “If you wish, make me clean”. He asks to be purified, that is to see his skin and his flesh clean, but he asks also forgiveness from his sins and to be free from all that keeps him away from God and from men.

This is the attitude to have only with God, who alone can purify from the sin that has caused the disease.

To understand this assertion, which may seem absurd, let us briefly examine the first reading of today’s Mass. The chosen passage proposes a part of chapter 13 of Leviticus. In this chapter, leprosy is described including in it quite broadly different forms of skin diseases many of which are curable. In Chapter 14 it is described the ritual of the purification of lepers and of their infected houses.

Therefore, on the one hand, the Leviticus states that the Priests were the competent ones to examine the sick and to diagnose the infection declaring him “unclean” (Lev. 13, 3), on the other hand in chapter 14 we read that the same priest is then in charge of certifying the eventual healing (Lev 14, 1-4). In ancient societies, precautionary rules were indeed the only possible defense against contagious and incurable diseases; hence the harsh norms set forth in vv. 45-46: “The one who bears the sore of leprosy
shall keep his garments rent and his head bare, and shall muffle his beard; he shall cry out, ‘Unclean, unclean!’ As long as the sore is on him he shall declare himself unclean, since he is in fact unclean.
He shall dwell apart, making his abode outside the camp “.

The leper is therefore an impure individual, struck by God because of a physical and moral impurity: he is an untouchable and must live banned by society.

This makes us understand why, in Jesus’ times, the lepers were really “unapproachable”. They were the untouchables – an image of what sin does in man. Faced with cry for the help of the leper, who recognizes in Jesus the envoy of God to cure also the lepers, Jesus responds with his divine “compassion”: he extends his hand, touches him – becoming himself impure according to the law – and says: “I do will it, be purified”.

It is against this background that the Gospel story acquires a precise meaning: Jesus touches an untouchable. The Kingdom of God does not take into account the barriers of the pure and the impure: it overcomes them.

There are no men to welcome and men to avoid, men who are close to us and men who are far, men with rights and men without rights. All are loved by God. All are called, and evangelical praxis must be the sign of this divine love that makes no differences.

2) Purity.

What is the biblical concept of purity? In order not to make you bored with a lengthy examination of the biblical texts in this regard, I once more dwell on the first reading taken by Leviticus², in which it is described in what incurs the unclean person. In this book, as I mentioned in the first paragraph, when someone showed symptoms that could be traced to leprosy, precisely because leprosy is an infectious disease, he was immediately declared “impure” by the priest. The consequence was that he had to live alone and outside the camp.

The Jews, like the ancient oriental peoples, considered “everything” that belonged to the sacred sphere and favored the worship of God. On the contrary, they considered “impure” everything that opposed the sacred and was an obstacle to worship. However, a similar distinction did not concern the moral sphere of the person, but only the conditions necessary to be considered fit or not for worship and to be included in the life of the community (a leper was excluded).

At the time of Jesus’ earthly life, this distinction between pure and impure was in force, supported by the Pharisees. But Christ teaches us to give primacy to interior purity, which has its center in the heart of man, from where what truly contaminates his existence may come out (Cf. Mt 15: 10-20; Mk 7: 14-23). We too, following the example of Jesus, must privilege inner and moral purity: the purity of the heart

Being pure of heart means above all to be holy and honest.

The saint is not a superman. The saint is a true man, restored to his truth because he is cleansed from sin. The saint is a true person, who kneels before Christ, recognizes his divinity, implores him to be cleansed by his mercy and lives by the pure love that he shares with his neighbor. Saint is he who – in spite of his weaknesses, indeed precisely because of them and for the awareness of his own nothingness – recognizes the need to be converted, healed and saved by Christ every day. This is why saint is he who follows Him with perseverance and with a wise and intelligent heart along the journey that is Christ himself.

Holy is he who follows Christ sincerely.

Sincerity is the mirror of truth of all the other virtues. The holy person manifests his or her truth in sincerity. This is the virtue that guarantees the truth of the relationships with God and with others. Sincerity is the transparency of the heart. The lack of sincerity obscures our vocation as servants of God. The foundation of sincerity is to stand in the presence of God who is the transparency of Truth. Jesus was sincere. People knew how his heart was. “We know that you are truthful” (Mt 22, 16). His sincerity was printed in his eyes.

Therefore, let us imitate Christ in his sincerity, with simplicity and loyalty be faithful to his Heart that guards our heart and make this prayer our own: “O God, who promised to be present in those who love you and with a right and sincere heart guard your word, make us worthy of becoming your permanent home “(Colletta of the Sixth Sunday of the year).

3) Sincerity and virginity.

“What a sweet joy to think that the good God is just, that is, that he takes into account our weaknesses and knows perfectly the fragility of our nature. So what should I be afraid of? “(Saint Teresa of the Child Jesus, Virgin and Doctor of the Church)

“Chastity is sincerity, so the best protection for chastity is to hide nothing” (Saint Mother Teresa of Calcutta)

A current testimony to the truth of the affirmation of the two Saints is the life of the consecrated virgins. These women give themselves completely to Christ and their love, purified and sanctified by their consecration, becomes the visibility of God’s love. As God loves sincerely, without ulterior motives, without asking for anything in return because He loves to give joy, so the consecrated virgins sincerely love God and the neighbor, to give themselves to God and to chastely give to the neighbor the Holy Love of which they live.

“Totally consecrated to God, they are totally handed over to the brothers, to bring the light of Christ where the darkness is thickest and to spread his hope in the disheartened hearts. The consecrated persons are a sign of God in the different environments of life, they are leaven for the growth of a more just and fraternal society, they are prophecy of sharing with the little ones and the poor. Thus understood and lived, the consecrated life appears to us just as it truly is: a gift of God, a gift of God to the Church, a gift of God to its People “(Pope Francis).

Arlington Catholic Herald

God’s healing mercy

By Fr. Jack Peterson, YA | For the Catholic Herald

2/07/18

Few things were more repugnant in Jesus’ day than leprosy. There was no cure. It was contagious. Caused by a slow-growing bacteria, leprosy affects the nerves, skin and eyes. It leads to the crippling of the hands and feet, paralysis and blindness.

In addition to the painful and debilitating physical realities, a leper was forced into becoming a social and religious outcast. A Jew with leprosy had to present himself to the priest who would declare him unclean. He had to ring a bell when he ran into people and cry out, “Unclean! Unclean!” Lepers were banished from society and forced to dwell on the outskirts of town. They also were considered sinners and were banned from entering the local synagogue or the Temple in Jerusalem. It could not get much worse.

In the Gospel today, a leper casts aside these cultural mores and boldly approaches Jesus in public. He draws near to Jesus, falls to his knees and says: “If you wish, you can make me clean.” Jesus is moved with pity at the presence of this suffering soul. He stretches out His hand, touches him and immediately the leper becomes clean.

The casting out of demons and the healing of the blind, the lame and others variously afflicted comprised a major element of Jesus’ ministry. These acts of Jesus manifest the reality that the kingdom of God has dawned upon the earth. They are a clear indication of His divinity. They demonstrate Jesus’ power over Satan, sin and death. These healings proclaim that Jesus came to set humanity free from captivity to evil. Finally, they also point to a much deeper reality — Jesus came to heal every human being from the most repugnant disease of all — sin. Jesus came with a bottomless jar of healing balm, His loving mercy.

We can’t spend too much time exploring this element of Jesus’ ministry before we ask the question, why does Jesus not heal physically and immediately every sick person walking the earth? One outstanding reason is that the suffering that results from various physical ailments is often the only way that God can break through our stubborn pride that tempts us to think we are self-made and self-saved — that we do not need God. Suffering is, for some people, the only medicine that can heal them of the great sin of believing that they are not God’s children and are not radically dependent upon Him for life, purpose and love. Suffering helps us to grasp that we are not Lord of our own lives.

On a different note, God chooses to allow some of His children to be united particularly to Jesus by being joined to the suffering He endured during His public ministry, most especially His passion. When these faith-filled children intentionally unite their pain and misery to the supreme act of suffering that Jesus endured in the garden and on the cross, they complete the suffering of Christ and help Him redeem the world. They choose in love to unite themselves to the passion of Jesus because love hates to see the beloved suffer and they want to share His suffering. Many, if not most, of the saints came to this beautiful level of faith and bore witness that our faith is a profound source of strength and hope.

The leper’s response to Jesus’ extraordinary gift of healing is to publicize the whole miraculous event. You get a sense that he simply could not hold back his joy. The proper response to God’s healing work in our lives is to proclaim joyfully His marvels and spend oneself in humble service to God and neighbor.

How are you responding to God’s healing and mercy in your life today?

Fr. Peterson is director of mission and development for the Youth Apostles.

Archdiocese of Washington

Losing our Leprosy – A Homily for the 6th Sunday of the Year

Msgr. Charles Pope • February 10, 2018 •

In the Gospel this Sunday, we see the healing of a leper (this means you and me). In Scripture, leprosy describes more than just a physical affliction; it is a metaphor for sin as well. Obviously leprosy itself is not sin, but its effects are similar. Like leprosy, sin disfigures us; it deteriorates us; it distances us (lepers had to live apart from the community) and it brings death if left unchecked.

The following passage can be seen as comparing sin to leprosy:

There is no soundness in my flesh because of thy indignation; there is no health in my bones because of my sin. For my iniquities have gone over my head; they weigh like a burden too heavy for me. My wounds grow foul and fester because of my foolishness, I am utterly bowed down and prostrate; all the day I go about mourning … there is no soundness in my flesh … My friends and companions stand aloof from my plague, and my kinsmen stand far off (Psalm 38).

Perhaps a brief description of leprosy might be in order so that we can further appreciate both the physical disease and by analogy how sin gradually devastates us. I have compiled this description from several sources, among them, William Barclay’s Commentary on Mark.

Leprosy begins with an unaccountable lethargy and pains in the joints. Then there appear on the body, especially on the back, symmetrical discolored patches with pink and brown nodules and the skin becomes thickened. Gradually the symptoms move to the face and the nodules gather especially in the folds of the cheek, the nose, the lips, and the forehead. The whole appearance of the face is changed till a person loses his human appearance and looks more like a lion. The nodules grow larger and larger and they begin to ulcerate, and from them comes a foul discharge of pus. The eyebrows fall out and the eyes become staring. The voice becomes hoarse and the breath wheezes because of the ulceration of the vocal cords. Eventually the whole body becomes involved. Discolored patches and blisters appear everywhere. The muscles waste away; the tendons contract until the hands look more like claws. Next comes the progressive loss of fingers and toes until a whole hand or foot may drop off. It is a kind of a terrible and slow, progressive death of the body.

The disease may last from ten to thirty years and ends in mental decay, coma, then finally death.

Yet this was not all. The lepers had to bear not only the physical torment of the disease, but also the mental anguish and heartache of being completely banished from society. They were forced to live outside of town in leper areas. Everyone they knew and loved was lost to them and could only be seen from a distance.

In the middle ages, when people were diagnosed with leprosy, they were brought to the Church and the priest read the burial service over them, for in effect they were already dead, though still alive.

This description of leprosy shows how the illness develops, how it disfigures, deteriorates, and distances the leper. At that time, not every diagnosis of leprosy was accurate (there are many skin conditions that can resemble leprosy in its early stages). If the skin cleared up or at least did not deteriorate, the supposed leper could be readmitted to the community.

What about us spiritual lepers? How are we to find healing? Today’s Gospel suggests four steps to find healing from the spiritual leprosy of sin.

1. Admit the Reality – The text says, A leper came to Jesus, and kneeling down, begged him and said, “If you wish you can make me clean.” The man knows he is a leper; he knows he needs healing. He humbles himself and pleads for cleansing.

Do we know our sin? Do we know we need healing? Are we willing to ask for it? We live in times in which sin is often made light of; confessional lines are short. We often excuse our faults by blaming others or perhaps we point to some other sinner who is apparently “worse” than we are and think, “Well, at least I’m not as bad as he is.”

All of us are loaded with sin. We can be thin-skinned, egotistical, unforgiving, unloving, unkind, mean-spirited, selfish, greedy, stingy, lustful, jealous, envious, bitter, ungrateful, smug, superior, angry, vengeful, aggressive, unspiritual, and un-prayerful. Even if everything on that list doesn’t apply to you, certainly many of them do, at least at times. And that list isn’t even complete! We are sinners with a capital S and we need serious help.

Like the leper in the Gospel, we must start with step one: admitting the reality of our sin and humbly asking the Lord for help.

2. Accept the Relationship – Notice two things:

First, the leper calls on the Lord Jesus. In effect, he seeks a relationship with Jesus, knowing that it can heal him.

Second, note how the Lord responds. The text says that Jesus is moved with pity and touches him. The English word “pity,” though often considered condescending, comes from that Latin pietas, which refers to familial love. Jesus sees this man as a brother and reaches out to him in that way. Jesus’ touching of the leper was an unthinkable action at that time; no one would venture near a leper let alone touch one. Lepers were required to live outside of town, typically in nearby caves. But Jesus is God and He loves this man; in His humanity, He sees this leper as a brother. Scripture says,

For he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified have all one origin. That is why he is not ashamed to call them brethren, saying, “I will proclaim thy name to my brethren, in the midst of the congregation I will praise thee” (Heb 2:11).

It is in our relationship with the Lord, a relationship established by faith, that we are justified, transformed, healed, and ultimately saved. If we want to be free of the leprosy of our sin, we must accept the saving relationship with Jesus and let Him touch us.

3. Apply the Remedy – Having healed the leper, Jesus instructs him to follow through in the following manner: See that you tell no one anything, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses prescribed; that will be proof for them.

Among the ancient Jews it was the priests who were trained to recognize leprosy and distinguish it from ailments with similar symptoms. Priests were trained to observe and then make the final determination. A confirmed leper was banished from the community. Sometimes, out of an abundance of caution, a person was expelled on suspicion of leprosy, but the condition cleared up or remained stable. It was the priest who made the decision for the community as to whether the person should be readmitted.

Of course this is a metaphor for sacramental confession. What does the priest do in a sacramental confession? He assesses a person’s spiritual condition. If he sees God’s healing mercy at work in the person’s repentance, he reconciles him. In the case of a serious sinner who repents, the priest readmits him into the full communion of the Church. It is God who forgives, but He ministers through the priest.

To us spiritual lepers, the Lord gives the same instruction: go, show yourself to the priest …” In other words, “Go to confession.” The Lord tells us that we should offer for our cleansing what is prescribed. That is to say, we should offer our penance.

Why should the leper bother to do that? After all, the Lord has already healed him. To this we can only answer, “Do what Jesus says: show yourself to the priest and offer your penance.” It is true that God can forgive directly, but it is clear enough from this passage that confession is to be a part of the believer’s life, especially in the case of serious sin.

4. Announce the Result – When God heals you, you feel that you have to tell someone. There’s just something about joy that can’t be hidden—and people notice when you’ve been changed.

That said, there are aspects of this Gospel that are perplexing: Jesus warns the healed leper not to tell a soul other than the priest.

This (and other passages in which the Lord issues similar commands for silence) is puzzling. The reason is made clear later in the passage. Jesus did not want His mission turned into a magic show at which people gathered to watch miracles occur and see “signs and wonders.” This man’s inability to remain silent means that Jesus can no longer enter a town openly and that many will seek Him for secondary reasons.

That said, commands to remain silent cannot hold for us who have this standing order: Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age (Matt 28:19).

Hence it is clear that we need to shout what the Lord has done for us and give Him all the glory. When God acts in your life, there is joy that cannot be hidden or suppressed. If our healing is real, we cannot remain silent. To quote Jesus at a later point (when the Temple leaders told Him to silence His disciples), I tell you, if they keep quiet, the very rocks will cry out (Lk 19:40).

The heart of evangelization is announcing what the Lord has done for us. An old gospel song says, “I thought I wasn’t gonna testify … but I couldn’t keep it to myself, what the Lord has done for me!”

Yes, tell someone what the Lord has done. If your healing is real, you can’t keep quiet about it.

Video

Mark
	English: Douay-Rheims	Latin: Vulgata Clementina	Greek NT: Byzantine/Majority Text (2000)
	Mark 1
40.	And there came a leper to him, beseeching him, and kneeling down said to him: If thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.	Et venit ad eum leprosus deprecans eum : et genu flexo dixit ei : Si vis, potes me mundare.	και ερχεται προς αυτον λεπρος παρακαλων αυτον και γονυπετων αυτον και λεγων αυτω οτι εαν θελης δυνασαι με καθαρισαι
41.	And Jesus having compassion on him, stretched forth his hand; and touching him, saith to him: I will. Be thou made clean.	Jesus autem misertus ejus, extendit manum suam : et tangens eum, ait illi : Volo : mundare.	ο δε ιησους σπλαγχνισθεις εκτεινας την χειρα ηψατο αυτου και λεγει αυτω θελω καθαρισθητι
42.	And when he had spoken, immediately the leprosy departed from him, and he was made clean.	Et cum dixisset, statim discessit ab eo lepra, et mundatus est.	και ειποντος αυτου ευθεως απηλθεν απ αυτου η λεπρα και εκαθαρισθη
43.	And he strictly charged him, and forthwith sent him away.	Et comminatus est ei, statimque ejecit illum,	και εμβριμησαμενος αυτω ευθεως εξεβαλεν αυτον
44.	And he saith to him: See thou tell no one; but go, shew thyself to the high priest, and offer for thy cleansing the things that Moses commanded, for a testimony to them.	et dicit ei : Vide nemini dixeris : sed vade, ostende te principi sacerdotum, et offer pro emundatione tua, quæ præcepit Moyses in testimonium illis.	και λεγει αυτω ορα μηδενι μηδεν ειπης αλλ υπαγε σεαυτον δειξον τω ιερει και προσενεγκε περι του καθαρισμου σου α προσεταξεν μωσης εις μαρτυριον αυτοις
45.	But he being gone out, began to publish and to blaze abroad the word: so that he could not openly go into the city, but was without in desert places: and they flocked to him from all sides.	At ille egressus cœpit prædicare, et diffamare sermonem, ita ut jam non posset manifeste introire in civitatem, sed foris in desertis locis esset, et conveniebant ad eum undique.	ο δε εξελθων ηρξατο κηρυσσειν πολλα και διαφημιζειν τον λογον ωστε μηκετι αυτον δυνασθαι φανερως εις πολιν εισελθειν αλλ εξω εν ερημοις τοποις ην και ηρχοντο προς αυτον πανταχοθεν

40. And there came a leper to him, beseeching him, and kneeling down to him, and saying unto him, If you will, you can make me clean.
41. And Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth his hand, and touched him, and said to him, I will; be you clean.
42. And as soon as he had spoken, immediately the leprosy departed from him, and he was cleansed.
43. And he straitly charged him, and forthwith sent him away;
44. And said to him, See you say nothing to any man: but go your way, show yourself to the Priest, and offer for your cleansing those things which Moses commanded, for a testimony to them.
45. But he went out, and began to publish it much, and to blaze abroad the matter, inasmuch that Jesus could no more openly enter into the city, but was without in desert places: and they came to him from every quarter.

BEDE; After that the serpent-tongue of the devils was shut up, and the woman, who was first seduced, cured of a fever, in the third place, the man, who listened to the evil counsels of the woman, is cleansed from his leprosy, that the order of restoration in the Lord might be the same as was the order of the fall in our first parents; whence it goes on: And there came a leper to him, beseeching him.

AUG. Mark puts together circumstances, from which one may infer that he is the same as that one whom Matthew relates to have been cleansed, when the Lord came down from the mount, after the sermon.

BEDE, And because the Lord said that He came not to destroy the Law but to fulfill, he who was excluded by the Law, inferring that he was cleansed by the power of the Lord, showed that that grace, which could wash away the stain of the leper, was not from the Law, but over the Law. And truly, as in the Lord authoritative power, so in him the constancy of faith is shown; for there follows, Lord, if you will, you can make me clean. He falls on his face, which is at once a gesture of lowliness and of shame, to show that every man should blush for the stains of his life. But his shame did not stifle confession; he showed his wound, and begged for medicine, and the confession is full of devotion and of faith, for he refers the power to the will of the Lord.

THEOPHYL. For he said not, If you will, pray unto God, but, If you will, as thinking Him very God.

BEDE; Moreover, he Bede doubted of the will of the Lord, not as disbelieving His compassion, but, as conscious of his own filth, he did not presume. He goes on; But Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth his hand, and touched him, and said to him, I will, be you clean. It is not, as many of the Latins think, to be taken to mean and read, He wish to cleanse thee, but that Christ should say separately, I will, and then command, be you clean.

CHRYS. Further, the reason why He touches the leper, and did not confer health upon him by word alone, was, that it is said by Moses in the Law, that he who touches a leper, shall be unclean till the evening; that is, that He might show, that this uncleanness is a natural one, that the Law was not laid down for Him, but on account of mere men. Furthermore, He shows that He Himself is the Lord of the Law; and the reason why He touched the leper, though the touch was not necessary to the working of the cure, was to show that He gives health, not as a servant, but as the Lord.

BEDE; Another reason why He touched him, was to prove that He could not be defiled, who freed others from pollution. At the same time it is remarkable, that He healed in the way in which he had been begged to heal. If you will, says the leper, you can make me clean. I will, He answered, behold, you have My will, be clean; now you have at once the effect of My compassion.

CHRYS. Moreover, by this, not only did He not take away the opinion of Him entertained by the leper, but He confirmed it; for He puts to flight the disease by a word, and what the leper had said in word, He filled up in deed; wherefore there follows, And when he had spoken, immediately, &c.

BEDE; For there is no interval between the work of God and the command, because the work is in the command, for He commanded, and they were created. There follows: And he strictly charged him, and forthwith, &c. See you tell no man.

CHRYS. As if He said, It is not yet time that My works should be preached, I require not your preaching. By which He teaches us not to seek worldly honor as a reward for our works. It goes on: But go your way, show yourself to the chief of the priests. Our Savior sent him to the priest for the trial of his cure, and that he might not he cast out of the temple, but still be numbered with the people in prayer. He sends him also, that be might fulfill all the parts of the Law, in order to stop the evil-speaking tongue of the Jews. He Himself indeed completed the work, leaving them to try it.

BEDE; This He did in order that the priest might understand that the leper was not healed by the Law, but by the grace of God above the Law. There follows: And offer for your cleansing what Moses, &c.

THEOPHYL. He ordered him to offer the gift which they who were healed were accustomed to offer, as if for a testimony, that lie was not against the Law, lint rather confirmed the Law, inasmuch as lie Himself worked out the precepts of the Law.

BEDE; If any one wonders, how the Lord seems to approve of the Jewish sacrifice, which the Church rejects, let him remember, that He had not yet offered His own holocausts in His passion. And it was not right that significative sacrifices should he taken away, before that which they signified was confirmed by the witness of the Apostles in their preaching, and by the faith of the believing people.

THEOPHYL. But the leper, although the Lord forbade him, disclosed the benefit, wherefore it goes on: But he having gone out, began to publish and to blaze abroad the tale; for the person benefited ought to be grateful, and to return thanks, even though his benefactor requires it not.

BEDE; Now it may well be asked, why our Lord ordered His action to be concealed, and yet it could not be kept hid for an hour? But it is to be observed, that the reason why, in doing a miracle, He ordered it to be kept secret, and yet for all that it was noised abroad, was, that His elect, following the example of His teaching, should wish indeed that in the great things which they do, they should remain concealed, but should nevertheless unwillingly be brought to light for the good of others. Not then that He wished any thing to be done, which He was not able to bring about, but, by the authority of His teaching, He gave an example of what His members ought to wish for, and of what should happen to them even against their will.

BEDE; Further, this perfect cure of one man brought large multitudes to the Lord; wherefore it is added, So that he could not any more openly enter into the city, but could only be without in desert places.

CHRYS. For the leper every where proclaimed his wonderful cure, so that all ran to see and to believe on the Healer; thus the Lord could not preach the Gospel, but walked in desert places; wherefore there follows, And they came together to him from all Places.

PSEUDO-JEROME; Mystically, our leprosy is the sin of the first man, which began from the head, when he desired the kingdoms of the world. For covetousness is the root of all evil; wherefore Gehazi, engaged in an avaritious pursuit, is covered with leprosy.

BEDE; But when the hand of the Savior, that is, the Incarnate Word of God, is stretched out, and touches human nature, it is cleansed from the various parts of the old error.

PSEUDO-JEROME; This leprosy is cleansed on offering an oblation to the true Priest after the order of Melchisedec; for He tells us, Give alms of such things as you have, and, behold, all things are clean to you. But in that Jesus could not openly enter into the city, it is meant to be conveyed, that Jesus is not manifested to those, who are enslaved to the love of praise in the broad highway, and to their own wills, but to those who with Peter go into the desert, which the Lord chose for prayer, and for refreshing His people; that is, those who quit the pleasures of the world, and all that they possess, that they may say, The Lord is my portion. But the glory of the Lord is manifested to those, who meet together on all sides, that is, through smooth ways and steep, whom nothing can separate from the love of Christ.

BEDE; Even after working a miracle in that city, the Lord retires into the desert, to show that He loves best a quiet life, and one far removed from the cares of the world, and that it is on account of this desire, He applied Himself to the healing of the body.

Catena Aurea Mark 1

The cure of the leper

Fresco, Serbia

http://www.theworkofgod.org/Devotns/Euchrist/HolyMass/gospels.asp?key=162

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

Sunday Gospel Reflections

6th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Reading I: Leviticus 13:1-2,44-46 II: 1Cor 10:31-11:1

Gospel
Mark 1:40-45

⁴⁰ And a leper came to him beseeching him, and kneeling said to him, "If you will, you can make me clean."
⁴¹ Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand and touched him, and said to him, "I will; be clean."
⁴² And immediately the leprosy left him, and he was made clean.
⁴³ And he sternly charged him, and sent him away at once,
⁴⁴ and said to him, "See that you say nothing to any one; but go, show yourself to the priest, and offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded, for a proof to the people."
⁴⁵ But he went out and began to talk freely about it, and to spread the news, so that Jesus could no longer openly enter a town, but was out in the country; and people came to him from every quarter.

Interesting Details

(v.40) Biblical leprosy, described in Lev 13, covered a wide range of skin diseases and is not the present-day leprosy. It was the ultimate impurity because it cut the patients from the community and turned the patients into sources of contamination to others. Whenever they go out, they have to make noise so that people can stay away from them.
(vv.41-42) The Law cannot clean leprosy. It can only protect others by segregating lepers. Jesus, in contrast, was not afraid to touch the leper to heal him.
(v.44) Only the priest (not doctor!) can certify that the patient is free of the disease and allow him/her back into the community after a ritual cleansing process. Jesus was higher than the Law, but He did not contradict the Law. Instead, He ordered the healed man to comply with the law. This point is important here because for the next three Sundays we will hear legal scholars accuse Jesus for violating the Law in five different ways.
(v.45) Jesus was “out in the country,” much like the quiet place where he went to pray. This time, he drew people there, too.

One Main Point

Jesus heals me and restores me to the community.

Reflections

How does my sin, my uncleanness, cut me off from the human community?
How does Jesus restore sinners like me to the community? How do I experience the joy of rejoining the community?
Do I follow Jesus to His quiet place of prayer? What do I experience there?

Our Lady of Lourdes

Franciscan Media

Image: Our Lady of Lourdes in Rosary Square – Lourdes | José Luiz Bernardes Ribeiro

Our Lady of Lourdes

Saint of the Day for February 11

The Story of Our Lady of Lourdes

On December 8, 1854, Pope Pius IX proclaimed the dogma of the Immaculate Conception in the apostolic constitution Ineffabilis Deus. A little more than three years later, on February 11, 1858, a young lady appeared to Bernadette Soubirous. This began a series of visions. During the apparition on March 25, the lady identified herself with the words: “I am the Immaculate Conception.”

Bernadette was a sickly child of poor parents. Their practice of the Catholic faith was scarcely more than lukewarm. Bernadette could pray the Our Father, the Hail Mary and the Creed. She also knew the prayer of the Miraculous Medal: “O Mary conceived without sin.”

During interrogations Bernadette gave an account of what she saw. It was “something white in the shape of a girl.” She used the word aquero, a dialect term meaning “this thing.” It was “a pretty young girl with a rosary over her arm.” Her white robe was encircled by a blue girdle. She wore a white veil. There was a yellow rose on each foot. A rosary was in her hand. Bernadette was also impressed by the fact that the lady did not use the informal form of address (tu), but the polite form (vous). The humble virgin appeared to a humble girl and treated her with dignity.

Through that humble girl, Mary revitalized and continues to revitalize the faith of millions of people. People began to flock to Lourdes from other parts of France and from all over the world. In 1862 Church authorities confirmed the authenticity of the apparitions and authorized the cult of Our Lady of Lourdes for the diocese. The Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes became worldwide in 1907.

Reflection

Lourdes has become a place of pilgrimage and healing, but even more of faith. Church authorities have recognized over 60 miraculous cures, although there have probably been many more. To people of faith this is not surprising. It is a continuation of Jesus’ healing miracles—now performed at the intercession of his mother. Some would say that the greater miracles are hidden. Many who visit Lourdes return home with renewed faith and a readiness to serve God in their needy brothers and sisters.

There still may be people who doubt the apparitions of Lourdes. Perhaps the best that can be said to them are the words that introduce the film The Song of Bernadette: “For those who believe in God, no explanation is necessary. For those who do not believe, no explanation is possible.”

Our Lady of Lourdes if the Patron Saint of:

Bodily Ills

Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes 11th of February 2015
Carrying physical and emotional baggage, U.S. military visit Lourdes
Lourdes healing hailed as 'remarkable' [Catholic Caucus]
Healing and Miracles at Lourdes-February 11 Feast Day
LOURDES AND ST. BERNADETTE [Catholic Caucus]
Story of The Miracle of Lourdes
Healing 'gift' from Lourdes visit frees ALS victim from wheelchair (Catholic Caucus)
Catholic Caucus: The Allure of Lourdes
Saint Bernadette & Our Lady of Lourdes [Catholic Caucus]
Church doctors bail out of miracle business at Lourdes? Not so fast... [Catholic Caucus]

Mary Unites Christians, Cardinal Tells Anglicans (Pilgrimage to Lourdes Called a Miracle)
Anglican archbishop comes under fire for homily at Lourdes [Ecumenical]
On the Message of Lourdes
Pope delivers anti-euthanasia message at Lourdes
At Prayer (Pope's pilgrimage to Lourdes) [Ecumenical]
Pope Benedict XVl's Homily at Lourdes
Pope Benedict goes to France, and to Lourdes (full coverage and links) [Catholic Caucus]
Pope to Pray for World at Feet of Our Lady (of Lourdes) [Catholic Caucus]
Papal calendar: Lourdes visit, four new saints and the Bible Synod
Lourdes and Penance(Catholic Caucus)

Vatican marks 150th anniversary of Lourdes girl's visions of ary
Pope OKs plenary indulgence for Lourdes' 150th anniversary [Catholic/Orthodox Caucus}
On Lent... and Lourdes (Benedict XVI's Angelus address)
The challenge of finding peace in Lourdes
Anglicans keep Lourdes anniversary (8 bishops plan unprecedented pilgrimage)
Lourdes
Trips to Lourdes to Cut Time Spent in Purgatory
A Different Take On Health Care: A Trip to Lourdes (Catholic Caucus)
Catholic Church officials call for more clergy to work at Marian shrine in Lourdes
150th Anniversary of Our Lady of Lourdes (Catholic Caucus)

Pope: From Lourdes to Seoul, I entrust the world's sick and suffering to Mary [Catholic Caucus] (Locked)
fear and loathing at Lourdes (French bishops shudder 'avec peur')
Novena to Our Lady of Lourdes
Woman whose healing is 67th Lourdes miracle tells her story
Catholic Church vets 67th Lourdes 'miracle'
Our Lady of Lourdes - February 11
Our Lady of Lourdes
Paralyzed Woman Cured at Lourdes Shrine
Lourdes Has Its 66th Officially Recognized Miracle

Information: Our Lady of Lourdes

Feast Day: February 11

CATHOLIC ALMANAC

Sunday, February 11

Liturgical Color: Green

Today is the optional memorial
of Our Lady of Lourdes. Here
Our Lady made 18 appearances
to St. Bernadette in 1858. A
basilica was built over the grotto
where Mary appeared. More
than 200 million pilgrims have
visited the site since 1860.

Catholic Culture

Ordinary Time: February 11th

Sixth Sunday of Ordinary Time

MASS READINGS

February 11, 2018 (Readings on USCCB website)

COLLECT PRAYER

O God, who teach us that you abide in hearts that are just and true, grant that we may be so fashioned by your grace as to become a dwelling pleasing to you. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

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Recipes (1)

Spring, Fall or Winter Sunday Dinner Menu

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Teaching Children About Sickness and Death

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Prayers (4)

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Library (1)

Mental Illness: 'A Real and Authentic Social Health Care Emergency' | Pope Benedict XVI

Old Calendar: Quinquagisima Sunday

A leper came to him (and kneeling down) begged him and said, "If you wish, you can make me clean." Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand, touched him, and said to him, "I do will it. Be made clean." The leprosy left him immediately, and he was made clean (Mark 1:40-42).

The feast of Our Lady of Lourdes, which is ordinarily celebrated today, is superseded by the Sunday liturgy.

Click here for commentary on the readings in the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite.

Sunday Readings
The first reading is taken from the Book of Leviticus 13:1-2, 44-46 and concerns the regulations enforced by the priests regarding certain bodily diseases which made a person unclean and a menace to the health of his neighbors.

The second reading is from the First Letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians 10:31, 11:1 and speaks of our imitation of Paul as he imitates Christ for the sake of the Gospel, as well as of the unity of the Church of God.

The Gospel is from St. Mark 1:40-45. We see both the divine power and the divine compassion of Jesus in this act of healing. The divine power was necessary in all instantaneous cures. Even if the diseases were curable, the ordinary process of nature took time to fight off the causes and to return to normality. Therefore, where there was an instantaneous recovery some power above nature, some supernatural cause brought it about. But where the disease was incurable, as real leprosy then was, to remove it by a simple word of command was more emphatically still the result of divine power. This divine power Jesus had, for he was himself divine, the Son of God.

His compassion for suffering humanity was, however, co-terminus with his power, it was also divine. It was out of compassion for the sad lot of the human race on earth that he descended to man's level, becoming man, equal to us in all things except sin, in order to suffer with us and for us. By his human sufferings he made an atonement, a satisfaction for all the sins of the world —a satisfaction which all mankind could never make—to his heavenly Father, and so obtained for us God's pardon. At the same time, 'by joining our human nature to his divine nature, he brought us into the divine orbit and made us adopted sons of God and heirs of the eternal life of the Blessed Trinity. Because this seems almost too good to be true, there are men who deny it or refuse to accept it. Such men make the mistake of measuring the infinite compassion of God with the limited yardstick of their own finite and puny compassion.

Thanks be to God, for his infinite compassion! Thanks be to God, for Christ his Son, who came and dwelt amongst us! He put heaven and a share in the life of God within our reach; he has shown us how to attain them, giving in his Church and the sacraments, all the necessary aids. But we still need all of Christ's compassion if we are to get there. Because of our inclination to sin and because of the many times we unfortunately give in to that inclination, nothing but the mercy of God can save us from our own folly. However, that mercy is available, if only we ask for it. What we sinners need is the faith and confidence of the leper in today's gospel reading. He believed firmly in the power and the mercy of Jesus. "If you will, you can make me clean," was his approach to Jesus.

This should be our approach too, if we have the misfortune to fall into serious sin. Jesus does will and does want our salvation. His incarnation, and death on the cross, proves that. The fact that he left the power to forgive sins to his Church is another proof of both his will and desire to help us. "All power has been given to me in heaven and on earth," he stated. Part of that power which he left to his Church is in the sacrament of penance where the leprosy of sin can be washed away and the sinner restored to new and perfect spiritual health. What folly for any Christian then, to commit sin and isolate himself, like the unclean leper, from God. But it is greater folly still, to remain in this unclean state when the cure for his disease is so easily available to any sincere penitent.

— Excerpted from The Sunday Readings by Fr. Kevin O'Sullivan, O.F.M.

The Word Among Us

Meditation: 1 Corinthians 10:31–11:1

6th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Brothers and sisters, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God. (1 Corinthians 10:31)

Ash Wednesday is this week. While some of us are keen to begin Lent, some may feel disheartened at the prospect of keeping their Lenten resolutions. If this is you, don’t worry. Paul’s words have come at just the right time. Not only is this verse encouraging, but it’s a fitting theme for Lent—something you can return to again and again for inspiration and direction.

Brothers and sisters. First, remember that you won’t be embarking on this journey alone. You are swept up into a vast family called the Church. This multitude will be walking arm in arm with you as you follow Jesus on his road to the cross. You can always call on these traveling companions for encouragement and support in prayer. What’s more, you can always ask your Father to send down reinforcements of grace if the going gets tough!

Whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do. Remember, the kingdom of God isn’t a matter of eating and drinking (Romans 14:17). Neither is it a matter of not eating and drinking. So don’t get hung up on the details of your resolution. And don’t worry if you slip up every now and then. Instead, keep your focus on your love for Jesus. Running errands. Doing laundry. Caring for a spouse. Even fasting. These can all become opportunities to let your love for God work itself outward into every nook and cranny of your life.

Do everything for the glory of God. If you’re still feeling unsure about Lent, cling to the motto of St. Ignatius of Loyola: “For the greater glory of God.” God is shown to be glorious when his children offer their daily tasks to him and find happiness in glorifying him. This is the heart of Lent: putting aside temporary pleasures in order to become satisfied in God.

“Lord, here’s all my life—for your glory.”

Leviticus 13:1-2, 44-46
Psalm 32:1-2, 5, 11
Mark 1:40-45

A Christian Pilgrim

HOW WOULD JESUS WANT US TO TREAT THE LEPERS OF OUR SOCIETY?

(A biblical refection on the SIXTH ORDINARY SUNDAY [YEAR B], 11 February 2018)

Gospel Reading: Mark 1:40-45

First Reading: Leviticus 13:1-2,44-46; Psalms: Psalm 32:1-2,5,11; Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 10:31-11:1

The Scripture Text

And a leper came to Him beseeching Him, and kneeling said to Him, “If You will, You can make me clean.” Moved with pity, He stretched out His hand and touched Him, and said to him, “I will; be clean.” And immediately the leprosy left him, and he was made clean. And He sternly charged him, and sent him away at once, and said to him, “See that you say nothing to any one; but go, show yourself to the priest, and offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded, for a proof to the people. But he went out and began to talk freely about it, and to spread the news, so that Jesus could no longer openly enter a town, but was out in the country; and people came to Him from every quarter. (Mark 1:40-45 RSV)

Leprosy in biblical times was not the dreaded disease we know by that name today but was any white, crusty patch on a person’s skin. The people in Jesus’ day considered eczema and skin diseases like it to be leprosy.

According to the Jewish faith, lepers were ritually unclean. This did not mean they were sinful or dirty but that they could not worship in the Temple or offer sacrifices there. Lepers also lived outside the city walls and cried out “unclean, unclean” whenever someone came near them. Anyone who touched a leper was also unclean.

Because leprosy prevented the person from associating with others, especially in public worship, today’s first reading instructs the leper to rend or tear a piece of clothing, an ancient Jewish sign of grief.

A person who recovered from the leprosy first met a priest outside the city walls and if the priest found the leprosy had indeed cleared up, the leper would take a ritual bath and then offer certain sacrifices to God. The type of sacrifice depended on the person financial ability. Only after washing and offering the sacrifices could the person return to the city and worship with he rest of the community.

Notice that in today’s Gospel reading Jesus not only associates with the leper but He also does something the ordinary person would not dare do. Jesus stretches out His hand and actually touches the man, healing him on the spot. Jesus then instructs him to show himself to the priest and to offer the appropriate sacrifices in the Temple.

Notice also that Jesus tells the man not to say anything to anyone about being healed. We find this messianic secret, as biblical scholars call it only in the Gospel according to Mark. In no other Gospel does Jesus perform a miracle and then instruct the person not to make the incident public. Scripture scholars do not know why Jesus does this or why the same or similar stories in the other Gospels do not contain this detail.

Lepers were the people society shunned in Jesus’ day. Who are the outcasts in our own society today? How would Jesus want us to treat these people?

Source: Jerome J. Sabatowich, Cycling Through the Gospels – Gospel Commentaries for Cycles A, B, and C, pages 168-169.)

Prayer: Heavenly Father, Jesus shows Himself to be One who comes to outcasts and marginal people, such as lepers. By Your Holy Spirit, make us faithful disciples of Jesus. Amen.

The Gospel in Pictures and Captions

Marriage = One Man and One Woman Until Death Do Us Part

Daily Marriage Tip for February 11, 2018:

“A leper came to him…and said, “If you wish, you can make me clean.” (Mk 1:40) Have you allowed God to clean you, and to heal your wounds? Be not afraid to come before Him.

What Do You Wish To Be Healed Of?

Pastor’s Column

Sixth Sunday Ordinary Time

February 11, 2018

What do you think would happen if Jesus suddenly appeared visibly at Saint Edward next Sunday? Everyone would get right in line to ask for a healing! Who among us or among those we love doesn’t have need of some cure or another?

In today’s gospel, a leper dramatically kneels down in front of Jesus and begs him for a cure. It’s not surprising to find this man pursuing Jesus. Throughout the stories of Jesus in the New Testament, it seems like everyone is looking for a healing for something or other. It is really interesting to look at what people are actually asking for; it’s almost always to be healed of some bodily illness – something on the outside—particularly things that are visible to others. Jesus, on the other hand, almost always wants to heal first what is on the inside—in the heart, that which God alone can see.

Our world tends to judge people by what we see on the outside. Just look at how many ads there are for weight loss clinics, tanning parlors, plastic surgeons, Botox injections and other such things--as if improving these things can make us happy! The most important issues to God are within our soul, that which has damaged my relationship with God or others. This is where Jesus would like to start healing us right away!

Picture yourself kneeling down in front of Jesus. What sort of healing would you seek from him if it were you in this gospel? What is the most important thing that must be healed first? In order to answer this question, we must start with a good examination of life. Do you really see yourself as you are? Many of us never get below the surface; we know about the wounds we can see, but what about the ones that are visible to God alone? These wounds have another word – not leprosy – but sin – and Jesus wants to heal this if we will only bring them to him.

Oftentimes, Jesus waits for us to ask for a healing of the area that has caused the greatest damage to our relationship with God. You may notice that people in the New Testament never seem to ask Jesus to heal them of selfishness or unkindness, their cruelty, vengeance, spite, impurity, stinginess, a complaining heart or other such things, and yet these are the real leprosy in our lives. They may be mostly unseen, but left untreated in the heart, they corrode like battery acid.

Before Lent begins, perhaps we should pray for the grace of a deep self-examination of conscience; then we shall know what sort of healing the Lord wishes to work with us on during Lent. It may not be the first thing that comes to mind.

Archbishop Follo: On Begging to be purified

God’s healing mercy

Losing our Leprosy – A Homily for the 6th Sunday of the Year

Our Lady of Lourdes

Saint of the Day for February 11

The Story of Our Lady of Lourdes

Reflection

Our Lady of Lourdes if the Patron Saint of:

Ordinary Time: February 11th

Sixth Sunday of Ordinary Time

MASS READINGS

COLLECT PRAYER

Recipes (1)

Activities (1)

Prayers (4)

Library (1)

Meditation: 1 Corinthians 10:31–11:1

What Do You Wish To Be Healed Of?

Father Gary