First Reading (Lv 13:1-2, 44-46)
A reading from the Book of Leviticus:
The Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying: “When someone has a swelling or a scab or a shiny spot on their skin that may be a defiling skin disease, they must be brought to Aaron the priest or to one of his sons who is a priest. If the person has a defiling skin disease and yet is still alive, the priest is to pronounce them unclean.
The person with such an infectious disease must wear torn clothes, let their hair be unkempt, cover the lower part of their face and cry out, ‘Unclean! Unclean!’ As long as they have the disease they remain unclean. They must live alone; they must live outside the camp.”
— The word of the Lord.
— Thanks be to God.
Second Reading (1Cor 10,31–11,1)
Reading from the First Letter of Saint Paul to the Corinthians:
Brothers and sisters: Whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God. Do not scandalize anyone, neither Jews, nor Greeks, nor the Church of God. Do as I do, seeking to please everyone in everything, not seeking my own advantage, but that of the many, so that they may be saved. Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.
— The word of the Lord.
— Thanks be to God.
Announcement of the 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 approached Jesus, knelt down, and begged, “If you wish, you can make me clean.” Jesus, filled with compassion, stretched out his hand, touched him, and said, “I do will it. Be made clean!” Immediately the leprosy left him and he was made clean. Then Jesus sternly charged him and sent him away at once, 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.”
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.
— The Gospel of the Lord.
— Praise to you, Lord.
Reflecting the Word of God
My brothers and sisters in Christ,
Today, I would like to begin our reflection with a question: how many times do we find ourselves in situations that make us feel isolated, excluded, and even impure? How often do we face physical, emotional, or spiritual illnesses that distance us from others and make us feel like lepers, rejected by society?
The reading from the book of Leviticus speaks to us about leprosy, a feared and stigmatized disease in Jesus’ time. Lepers were considered impure, excluded from the community, and forced to live in isolation. They were seen as a threat, both physically and spiritually. Leprosy was a sentence of social death, a condition that brought shame and suffering.
However, in today’s Gospel, we see Jesus acting completely differently. A leper approaches him, kneels before him, and pleads, “If you wish, you can make me clean.” At this moment, we can imagine the tense silence that settled in. All eyes were fixed on Jesus, waiting for his response.
And what does Jesus do? He reaches out his hand, touches the leper, and says, “I do will it. Be made clean!” In that instant, the man’s life is transformed. The disease that afflicted him disappears, the exclusion surrounding him is dissipated, and he is restored to communion with others. Jesus’s power is so great that even leprosy is cured by his touch.
This story shows us the compassion and mercy of Jesus. He does not fear contact with the impure but, on the contrary, reaches out to those who are excluded and marginalized. He extends his hand and touches those who are considered untouchable. He restores the dignity and hope of those who are rejected. And he teaches us a profound lesson about true purity.
Leprosy, in this passage, can be seen as a metaphor for all forms of impurity that we face in our lives. We all have areas within ourselves that seem impure, tainted by sin and guilt. We may feel like spiritual lepers, isolated and excluded from God’s grace and communion with others.
But the central message of this passage is that Jesus is our cleanser. He has the power to cleanse us of all impurities and restore us to communion with God and others. He reaches out his hand and touches us, welcoming us into his infinite mercy. No matter how impure we may feel, his grace is greater than any sin or stain.
My brothers and sisters, this is a message of hope and liberation for all of us. No matter what we have done, no matter the impurities we carry in our lives, Jesus is ready to purify and restore us. He is ready to reach out his hand and bring us back into communion with God and others.
However, like the leper, we also need to do our part. The leper approached Jesus with faith and humility, acknowledging his own impurity and pleading for purification. We need to do the same. We need to approach Jesus with confidence and humility, recognizing our weaknesses and sins, and pleading for his mercy.
Furthermore, today’s Second Reading reminds us that once purified and restored by Jesus, we are called to live in a way that glorifies God in everything we do. Saint Paul exhorts us to do everything for the glory of God and to follow his example, just as he follows the example of Christ. Our actions, words, and thoughts should reflect the purity and holiness we receive from Jesus.
But how can we apply this in our daily lives? How can we live in a way that glorifies God in everything we do? Let me share a story to illustrate this principle.
There was once a man who worked as a gardener in a convent. He was responsible for tending to the gardens and flowers around the convent. His work required patience, diligence, and attention to detail. He strove to make the gardens a testimony to the beauty and goodness of God.
One day, an unexpected visitor arrived at the convent. He was a wealthy and influential man, seeking spiritual guidance. He hoped to find deep and sophisticated answers to his concerns and questions. But, to his surprise, he was greeted by the simple gardener.
The wealthy man was disappointed and asked, “Where is the spiritual leader of this place? Where are the wise and the theologians?” The gardener smiled and replied, “I am just a gardener, but perhaps I can show you something that will help you.” He invited him to accompany him through the gardens.
As they walked, the gardener began to share the lessons he had learned while caring for the plants. He spoke about the importance of nurturing the roots, pruning the dead branches, and allowing the sunlight and rainwater to sustain the growth of the plants.
The wealthy man was impressed by the gardener’s simple and practical wisdom. He realized that often we seek complex answers and elaborate theories when true wisdom can be found in the simplicity of everyday life.
Like the gardener, each of us has a role to play in bearing witness to the glory of God. No matter what our job or position in society, we can glorify God in everything we do.
If we are parents, we can raise our children with love, patience, and teachings based on the values of the Gospel. If we are students, we can pursue academic excellence while also cultivating healthy relationships and kindness with our peers. If we are professionals, we can work with integrity, honesty, and compassion, seeking the well-being of others in all our decisions.
The secret is to recognize that all areas of our life are opportunities to reflect God’s glory. Every interaction, every task, every moment can become an occasion to express God’s love to others.
However, this is not an easy task. It is a constant challenge to remain focused on our mission to glorify God amidst the distractions and temptations of the world. Therefore, it is important to cultivate a life of prayer and intimacy with God.
Just as the gardener cared for the plants, we also need to nurture our spiritual roots through prayer, reading the Word of God, and the sacraments. We need to prune the dead branches of sin and spiritual neglect. And we need to allow God’s light and the grace of the Holy Spirit to sustain and strengthen us on our journey of faith.
My brothers and sisters, we are called to be the gardeners of God’s grace in this world. May we, like the gardener in the story, find wisdom in the simplicity of everyday life and glorify God in everything we do.
May we recognize the mercy of Jesus, who reaches out his hand to purify and restore us. May we live in response to this love, seeking purity and holiness in all areas of our life. And may, through our actions and witness, we bring the hope and beauty of the Gospel to all whom we encounter.
May God bless us and guide us on our journey of faith. In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
