Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time – 11th February 2024
The first reading this Sunday from the Book of Leviticus and the Gospel from Mark, both speak to us about leprosy. For the Jewish people, before and during the time of Jesus, to be sick in any way was seen to be a sinner who was being punished by God. This was even more true and serious when a person had leprosy. Leprosy was highly contagious. If you touched a leper, it was more than likely that you would contract the disease yourself. Those who had this terrible skin disease had to leave their home, their families and their village. They could not eat or socialise with others. They were not allowed into the local synagogue or the temple to pray. They were pushed to the very edge of their community and society. They were treated with fear and suspicion. They were despised. We are told clearly at the end of the first reading, ‘As long as the disease lasts, a person must be unclean; and therefore, they must live apart; they must live outside the camp’. Little had changed by the time of Jesus.
A leper comes to Jesus and pleads on his knees, ‘if you want to, you can heal me.’ Without hesitating, and feeling compassion for the leper, ‘Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him. Of course, I want to, he said. Be healed.’ By just being near a leper, Jesus is breaking the strict social and religious laws of his time. Then he speaks to the leper, and breaks the law again. Then he reaches out with care and tenderness to touch the leprosy; again, he breaks the law.