6th Sunday of the Year (B)

(Edited) Reflections (From) 6th Sunday in Ordinary Time (B), February 12, 2012

Liturgical readings

Leviticus 13:1-2, 44-46
Psalm 32
1 Corinthians 10:31 - 11:1
Mark 1:40-45

"I do will it. Be cured."

In the past Sunday gospels, people kept coming to Jesus for healing. It was clear to the people "Who" and "What" the Good News is: He is Jesus, and He brings restoration and healing. Today's passage describes another healing miracle which Jesus performed. It is a story of a leper. A leper approached Jesus and begged for healing. Jesus, moved with compassion, cured the leper. Jesus warned the healed man not to spread the "Word", but because of the man's joy, he made the story public. The Good News he made public, which the healed man concretely experienced in his life produced such joy in him that it overflowed to others.

Part of the realities of life that all people of all cultures experience are sin, sickness and death. It is clearly plain in the reading of the Scriptures, both in the Old and the New Testament. And it is experienced in every part of man's life. But these negative realities, these death-dealing direction should not be "the" reality. The Word of God incarnated in Jesus is a greater "reality". In truth, He is the best. In Him, the Good News of life and eternal life is being revealed to every member of the faithful from the rising of the sun until its setting. Our main task is to believe in Christ and receive continuous healing from our sins through prayer, the Sacraments, and good works. The joy the healed man experienced can be the same joy for all. It is a joy from amendment in one's state of life and fulfillment of one's responsibilites.

What do the classics say about this? The Classics regard Jesus as the Divine Physician of our souls. May this quote from St. Augustine give clarity to this great truth in the Person of Jesus:

"Rightly is my hope strong in Him, because You will heal all my diseases, through Him "who sits at Your right hand and makes intercession for us," elsewise I would despair. Many and great are those infirmities of mine, many they are and great, but more potent is Your medicine. We could think that Your Word is far from union with men, and we could despair of ourselves, unless He has been "made flesh and dwell amongst us." (from the Confessions of St. Augustine)