Struck by disease, forced to live far from the community, and separated from the worship of God, a leper in Jesus’ time is practically a “dead man walking.”

There is also the stigma of being stricken by God because of personal sins. Because contact with the leper renders a person unclean, Jewish law orders lepers to stay away from people, warning them with the sound of a tiny bell attached to their ankle, and shouting, “Unclean! Unclean!” Jesus does not feel bound by such health restrictions.

Feeling empathy for the leper begging for cleansing, He touches him. The cure is instantaneous. Respecting the Jewish law, Jesus tells the healed man to present himself to the priest in the Temple and to offer gifts for his cleansing.

It is important to Jesus that the person should be certified as completely healed and healthy that allows him to be reintegrated in the mainstream of Jewish society. Jesus gives the man new life, a form of resurrection.

What prevents us from drawing closer to those who suffer bodily and spiritual ailments? Are we willing to open our hearts and stretch out our hands to our brothers and sisters in need?

First Reading • 1 Sm 4:1-11

The Philistines gathered for an attack on Israel. Israel went out to engage them in battle and camped at Ebenezer, while the Philistines camped at Aphek.

The Philistines then drew up in battle formation against Israel. After a fierce struggle Israel was defeated by the Philistines, who slew about four thousand men on the battlefield.

When the troops retired to the camp, the elders of Israel said, “Why has the Lord permitted us to be defeated today by the Philistines? Let us fetch the ark of the Lord from Shiloh that it may go into battle among us and save us from the grasp of our enemies.”

So the people sent to Shiloh and brought from there the ark of the Lord of hosts, who is enthroned upon the cherubim. The two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were with the ark of God. When the ark of the Lord arrived in the camp, all Israel shouted so loudly that the earth resounded.

The Philistines, hearing the noise of shouting, asked, “What can this loud shouting in the camp of the Hebrews mean?” On learning that the ark of the Lord had come into the camp, the Philistines were frightened. They said, “Gods have come to their camp.”

They said also, “Woe to us! This has never happened before. Woe to us! Who can deliver us from the power of these mighty gods?

These are the gods that struck the Egyptians with various plagues and with pestilence. Take courage and be manly, Philistines; otherwise you will become slaves to the Hebrews, as they were your slaves. So fight manfully!”

The Philistines fought and Israel was defeated; every man fled to his own tent. It was a disastrous defeat, in which Israel lost 30,000 foot soldiers. The ark of God was captured, and Eli’s two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, were among the dead.

Responsorial Psalm • Ps 44

“Redeem us, Lord, because of your mercy.”

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 2026,” St. Paul’s, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 632-895-9701; E-mail: [email protected]; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.