REFLECTIONS TODAY
The Letter to the Hebrews in the First Reading warns and encourages the hearers not to repeat the mistakes of their ancestors who contended with God in the desert lest they, too, end up like them, not being able to “enter into rest” (v 11), to inherit his promises. In contrast, in the Gospel we have a leper who shows so much faith and confidence in the power of Jesus to heal him: “If you wish, you can make me clean” (v 40). Needless to say, because of such show of profound confidence and faith, he is cured. And even if he is warned by Jesus not to tell anyone about his healing, he proclaims it all the more. There is so much “character” to this leper: he is determined, he is not a mere passive “patient” spending his time pitying himself. As soon as he meets Jesus, he grabs the opportunity to approach Jesus in all confidence. Sometimes, when we are too engulfed in our misery, we lose faith and confidence that God can heal our suffering or infirmity. Let us not be “timid” before God; let us make known to him our desires, without demanding anything but simply trusting in his power and desire to save us.
Gospel • Mark 1:40-45
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 the leper, and said to him, “I do will it. Be made clean.” The leprosy left him immediately, and he was made clean. Then, warning him sternly, he dismissed him at once. Then he said to him, “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.” The man went away and began to publicize the whole matter. He spread the report abroad so that it was impossible for Jesus to enter a town openly. He remained outside in deserted places, and people kept coming to him from everywhere.
Source: “365 Days with the Lord 2023,” St. Paul's, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 632-895-9701; Fax 632-895-7328; E-mail: [email protected]; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.