VI SUNDAY OF THE YEAR B 24

6TH SUNDAY, 11 FEBRUARY 2024, LEV13. 1-2, 45-46; 1 COR 10. 31 – 11.1; MARK 1. 40-45 Focus: I will! Be clean! Indicative: Our ultimate motto is to glorify God through a life of goodness and holiness, bearing abundant fruits 1.      We live in a prevalent situation of sickness. It is not only the physical, but much more the emotional, moral and spiritual. In the biblical context, in reference to today’s Word of God, this is the “leprosy”. There are always traces of woundedness, uncleanness, corroding of values and estrangement from others – the typical leprous situation. In the light of the leper in the gospel, we can draw some lessons for our life: 1.      Realize: realize that we are lepers, unclean. This is the first thing in the process of healing. Realize that we are unworthy, undeserving, and we do not really merit God’s grace and mercy. That is why, the leper addresses Jesus, “If you will, you can make me clean”. 2.      Desire: Nurture a genuine desire to be healed. Be genuinely motivated to get rid of the interior leprosy. Desire or motivation is the driving force toward healing, and often the lack of it obstructs the process of healing. 3.      Trust: Trust in him that he will heal us. Trusting is also not something propositional, which is merely believing some truths and doctrines. Trusting is more a matter of deep conviction in the power and goodness of God. Trusting involves a warm and intimate relationship with the Lord. 4.      Surrender: With awareness and motivation, one needs to surrender oneself totally to God. Surrender is not a sense of helplessness or a passive resignation to overhauling situations. True surrender implies a profound trust in God and readily and eagerly approaching the Lord. 5.      Bear witness: Once healed and cleaned, what next? Bear witness! In the light of the second reading from the first letter to the Corinthians, we can easily pool together certain features of this bearing witness, especially from the second reading, 1 Corinthians 10.31 – 11.1. 1)      One ingredient is: “All for God’s glory”. There is no self-seeking, no seeking self-glory. Self is not at the centre but God alone. Whatever one does, in all that one does, whether big or small and whatever be the domain of action, whether spiritual or material, one does everything for God’s glory. 2)      Another component of witness is “Imitate Christ”. Paul confidently exhorts others to imitate him just as he imitates Christ. Let one not blame Paul for being complacent or self-righteous. Rather, such a statement only shows the depth of his conviction and authenticity.   One can declare so, only when one is sincere about it, only when one’s imitation of Christ is not debatable or spurious. Today, some gifted or highly competent followers of Christ may claim that they are imitators of Christ. May be!   But one has to constantly check and see whether such claims are ugly heads of overbearing self and self-projection. The only criterion for one’s imitating Jesus is the quality of life. The simplest test is whether one’s life conforms with Jesus’ own person, life and mission. 3)      Another feature is “No offence to anyone”. If one is a healed person, one becomes highly respectful toward others. He will take utmost care that he does not become offensive to anyone. In the present times, this hurting and offensive trend is increasing. In the name of fighting for justice or rights, standing for truth, opposing injustice and demanding good governance, or promoting right values, many become so ruthlessly offensive and condemnatory. One should remember that charity is the supreme principle, and no one has a right to offend another, whatever be the issue. 4)      The other features that can be assembled together are: “No self-advantage”, “But the advantage of many”, and “Pleasing all”. In contrast to a virulent search for self-interests, self-advantage and self-pleasing, we are called to set aside our selfish gains and pleasures. Always be focused on how to help and benefit others, and how to promote the larger good. Imperative: As humans, we may be often thrown into situations of sickness and sinfulness; what is needed is not to simply lament or blame, but to work upon remedying those situations, in humility, surrender and commitment. (Reflection 2) Thrust: Lord, make me clean! Indicative: God understands our human weaknesses and so He understands our failures. But He wants us to be aware of them and approach Him for healing 1.      We have a picture of simple but profound and genuine faith in the gospel. This is seen in a leper. Oh, What humility! What an openness! What confidence! What surrender! And what a sense of mission! 2.      He comes to Jesus. He kneels before him. He begs him. It is a gentle plea as he says, “If you wish”. He confides totally both in the goodness and power of the Lord, saying, “You can make me clean”. 3.      Will God refuse such a humble and faithful heart? The Lord is moved with pity. He stretches out his hand. He touches the leper. He says, “I will; Be healed”. And he heals him. 4.      We detect here the solidarity of Jesus with the suffering humanity. This is seen in his respect and acceptance of the leper, considered impure and excluded from society (Lev 13. 45-46; Num 5. 2-3). 5.      Any contact with lepers would subject one to resentment and disdain from others with the risk of ritual impurity and ritual obligations. But Jesus is least bothered about these issues. For him what matters the most is the person and his healing. So he heals. 6.      We also see Jesus’ total detachment from any self-recognition or publicity. He warns strictly the healed leper not to tell anyone anything. 7.      What a contrast with many today who eagerly and frantically seek cheap popularity and self-glory! Today the church too abounds with publicity-hunger. 8.      We also see the positive effect of real healing. Once healed, the leper goes around publicising the whole matter. He shares with others what he personally experienced. Imperative: I need to be open to the healing touch of the Lord. For this, I need to realise the need for healing. Also, I must become a sharer of God’s goodness to others