Reflection for January 14, Thursday of the First Week: Mark 1:40-45

Gospel: Mark 1:40-45

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

Then 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 abroad 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.

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Reflection:

Who does the leper represent today? It’s all of us who are sinners. When Jesus was approached by the leper Jesus did not run away from Him. He instead stayed, had pity on the leper, offered his healing hand to touch and clean him of his contagious disease.  

For the reason of their disease lepers were treated as outcast they were not allowed to mingle with the people. For fear that they may pass their sickness to those that they would be in touch with. Sounds familiar? Yes, very much like those who got sick with Covid-19 they are also being isolated so that they would not be able to infect others. But Jesus never run from the leper He instead did the contrary by offering His healing hand and right there the man was immediately healed. 

This is Jesus for all of us! Merciful, full of love and compassion for all of us. Never minding if we are sinners and never judgmental with the sins that we have committed. What is important for the Lord is we approach Him with humility, trust and repentance. 

We bare ourselves to Him and tell Him, “I strip myself of anything that makes me unworthy before you O Lord heal me and forgive me.” Let us remember that nothing is impossible for Jesus, He makes all things possible including the impossible. 

What are the sins that you have committed?  Do you think that you are already unworthy for the reason of your many sins? No, you are still worthy and precious in the eyes of Jesus. Humbly approach Him and please tell Him: Heal me O Lord! – Marino J. Dasmarinas