First Reading (Hebrews 3,7-14).
Reading of the Letter to the Hebrews.
Brothers, listen to what the Holy Spirit declares: “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts, as happened in the provocation, in the day of temptation, in the wilderness, where your fathers tempted me, putting me to the test, although they saw my works for forty years. Therefore I was angry with this generation and said: they always deceive themselves in their hearts and do not know my ways. So I swore in my anger: they will not enter my rest.” Take care, brothers, lest there be found in any of you a heart led astray by unbelief, leading him to turn away from the living God. Rather, encourage one another, day by day, as long as it still says “today”, so that none of you become hardened by the deceitfulness of sin, for we have become companions of Christ, as long as we keep our trust firm until the end. initial.
– Word of the Lord.
– Thank God.
Gospel (Mark 1,40-45).
Proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Mark.
— Glory to you, Lord.
At that time, a leper came close to Jesus and, on his knees, asked: “If you want, you have the power to heal me.” Jesus, full of compassion, reached out his hand, touched him, and said: “I want: be healed!” Instantly the leprosy disappeared and he was cured. Then Jesus immediately sent him away, speaking firmly: “Don’t tell anyone about this! Go, show yourself to the priest and offer, for your purification, what Moses commanded, as proof for them!” He went and started to tell and publicize the fact a lot. That’s why Jesus could no longer publicly enter a city: he stayed outside, in deserted places. And they came looking for him from everywhere.
— Word of Salvation.
— Glory to you, Lord.
Reflecting the Word of God
Today, dear brothers and sisters, the readings call us to reflect deeply on the hardness of our hearts and the restorative power of Christ in our lives. Let’s start with a question: how many times in our spiritual journeys have we hardened our hearts before the voice of God? Perhaps out of fear, doubt or even comfort, we close our ears to the Lord’s call, missing the opportunity to experience His grace in full.
In the First Reading, taken from the Letter to the Hebrews, we hear the echo of the psalm: “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts.” It is an urgent appeal, an invitation not to resist God’s action in us. The image of the hardened heart is rich in meaning. A hardened heart is like dry, cracked earth that cannot accommodate the seed. It is impervious to love, compassion, and repentance. Like this earth, our hearts can become sterile, unable to bear fruit, if we do not allow God to renew us.
The passage continues with a warning about the dangers of unbelief. The author urges us to encourage one another so that none of us is deceived by sin. Here, we see a call to community life, to the responsibility we have for each other on the journey of faith. Just as a fire needs wood to keep it burning, our faith also needs the warmth of community, sharing, friendly words that sustain us in moments of doubt.
In the Gospel of Mark we find a deeply moving scene. A leper, moved by bold faith, approaches Jesus and says: “If you want, you have the power to cleanse me.” Leprosy, in Jesus’ time, was not just a physical illness; it brought with it social and religious exclusion. The leper was considered unclean, someone banished from socializing with others, relegated to the margins of society.
Now, imagine for a moment that man’s pain. Not just the physical wounds, but the emotional and spiritual scars of being rejected by your own community. He carries a heavy cross, but his faith leads him to the only one who can truly restore him.
Jesus, moved by compassion, does something unthinkable: He touches the leper. In a gesture that breaks all social and religious conventions, Jesus demonstrates that God’s love knows no barriers. By touching that man, He not only heals his illness, but restores his dignity, giving him back his place in the community and in life. Jesus’ touch is not just physical; It is a touch that transforms, that reintegrates, that recreates.
This encounter reveals to us two essential things about the heart of God. First, God does not turn away from our misery. He is not disgusted by our wounds or our sins. On the contrary, He approaches, touches us, and offers us His mercy. Second, this gesture challenges us to examine how we treat the marginalized in our own lives. How often do we avoid those who suffer, those who seem “impure” in our eyes, whether because of their faults, their past or their circumstances?
This story also teaches us something about faith. The leper approaches Jesus with absolute confidence: “If you want, you have the power to cleanse me.” He recognizes the power of Jesus, but submits to the divine will. It is a model of prayer for us: trust in God’s power, but humility to accept His will.
Now let’s see how these two passages connect. The leper, in his misery, is the perfect example of someone who has not hardened his heart. He heard the voice of Jesus and responded in faith. On the other hand, the Pharisees and religious leaders of the day, who often criticized Jesus for His compassionate actions, are examples of those who hardened their hearts. Their traditions and prejudices blinded them to the truth that God was at work among them.
We can ask ourselves: where are we in this story? Are we like the leper, conscious of our need for God, or like those who harden their hearts before His voice? Maybe we are a little of both. Sometimes we approach God with confidence, but other times we allow doubt, pride, or fear to draw us away from Him.
Today’s call is clear: “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts.” God speaks to us in many ways: in His Word, in the sacraments, in the needs of others, and even in life’s challenges. We need to be attentive and willing to respond.
But how can we soften our hearts and open ourselves to God’s action? First, we must cultivate humility, recognizing that we need healing and transformation. Second, we need to feed our faith through prayer, reading the Word and participating in sacramental life. Third, we must actively seek ways to be compassionate and forgiving, imitating the example of Jesus.
The image of the cured leper offers us a final lesson. After being purified, he cannot contain his joy and proclaims the goodness of Jesus, despite being instructed to remain silent. When we experience God’s grace in our lives, we are called to share it. Our testimony can be the means by which others come to Christ.
So, brothers and sisters, as we reflect on these readings, may we hear God’s voice and respond with open hearts. May we approach Jesus like the leper, trusting in His power and mercy. And may we be agents of His compassion in the world, touching the lives of those who need it most.
May the Lord help us to live with malleable hearts, full of faith, hope and love. Amen.