February 11, 2018: Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Reading:

A leper came to Jesus and kneeling down begged him and said, “If you wish, you can heal me clean.”
Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand, touched him, 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.

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 aboard 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. (Mark 1:40-45)

Reflection:

In this story Jesus gives us one of the most important lessons in the Bible. He says, “I do choose” and heals the leper. These words are so important because they show us the lesson that being a Christian is not simply something we are, but it is something we do. We choose to follow Jesus — and with that choice comes a different responsibility of decision making.

Whatever the situation we face there are two choices — 1) stay isolated to ourselves and ignore others or 2) seek out opportunities and people, to draw closer to love and support.
The leper chose not to listen to negative voices and stay isolated, but to seek out Jesus for consolation, love, a cure. He took the step rather than face things alone. He decided to take a chance and seek a relationship. This is our challenge .

Action:

Be alert to your choices this week. Take the time to pause and reflect before you “do” something. Realize any action may become a source of healing to someone or even you.
Think of the words of Maya Angelou, “As soon as healing takes place, go out and heal somebody else.”