6TH SUNDAY HOMILY IN ORDINARY TIME – YEAR B
6TH SUNDAY HOMMILY IN ORDINARY TIME – YEAR B
THEME: The Boundless Compassion of Jesus
BY: Fr. Anthony O. Ezeaputa
The 2020 COVID-19 pandemic offered a poignant parallel to the plight of lepers in the time of Jesus. Just as we were compelled to isolate ourselves from loved ones and community, lepers were shunned and excluded due to their illness, suffering both physical and spiritual separation (Leviticus 13:45–46, Numbers 5:1-4).
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In our gospel reading (Mark 1:40–45), we witness a powerful encounter between Jesus and a leper, who, with unwavering faith and humility, approaches the Lord for healing. This encounter highlights the boundless compassion of Jesus, who is willing to transcend traditional boundaries to restore and make whole those who are broken and marginalized.
Saint Thomas Aquinas described lepers as a “living death” due to their physical decay and disfigurement (Summa Theologica, III, q. 23, a. 3), which rendered them ritually “unclean” and “defiled.” Similarly, St. Augustine saw their isolation from family and community life, especially worship in the Temple, as “spiritual death” (Confessions, III.8.17), echoing the ultimate separation of death (Romans 6:23).
In other words, the leper’s physical corruption and isolation remind us of the consequences of sin and the need for spiritual healing and reconciliation with God and neighbor. Conversely, their healing symbolizes divine authority, resurrection, compassion, and restoration to community life, underscoring God’s desire to restore and make us whole (Psalm 42:1–2).
A leper approaches Jesus, kneels, and implores Him, “If you wish, you can make me clean” (Mark 1:40). Moved with pity, Jesus stretches out His hand and touches the leper (Leviticus 13:1-46). As Donald Juel observes, this act “radically redefines purity and impurity” (Donald Juel, “The Gospel of Mark,” in The New Interpreter’s Bible, vol. 8 [Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1995], 520).
By touching the leper, Jesus showed that he didn’t view the leper as impure (Luke 7:39). He was breaking down barriers and prioritizing relationships and compassion over rules (Leviticus 13:45–46, Isaiah 58:6-7). Jesus was illustrating that true purity and holiness come from love and compassion, not following societal norms (1 Peter 1:22).
In response to the leper’s plea (Mark 1:40), Jesus responds, “I do will it. Be made clean” (Mark 1:41). His response in the Greek text is two powerful words transliterated as “Thelō, katharisthēti,” that is, “I am willing, be cleansed.”
St. John Chrysostom recognizes in this response a manifestation of His willingness and goodness (Homilies on the Gospel of Mark, Homily 9). It also underscores that true purity and holiness arise from love and compassion rather than legalistic observance (1 Peter 1:22).
The healing of this leper aligns with the mission of Jesus to reinstate outcasts into community life and worship (Matthew 9:13). As Pope Francis observes, the love of Jesus transcends human limitations, breaking down barriers and restoring dignity to those marginalized (Evangelii Gaudium, 2013).
This healing prompts us to consider the various barriers, whether racial, ethnic, tribal, social, economic, or political, in our world that need to be broken down. It also challenges us to love and embrace the most vulnerable (Isaiah 58:6-7) and to seek the good of many, avoiding actions that might create divisions (1 Corinthians 10:31–11:1).
As the apostle Paul reminds us, “There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28). This unity in Christ transcends the divisions that separate us, and it is through embracing and breaking down these barriers that we embody the reconciling love of God.
By recognizing and valuing the inherent worth and dignity of all individuals, regardless of their background or identity, we demonstrate the power of God’s love to bring healing and restoration to a broken world (2 Corinthians 5:16–20). In this way, we are called to live out our faith in a way that promotes unity, inclusivity, and reconciliation, reflecting the love of God that knows no bounds.
In today’s gospel reading (Mark 1:40–45), we see the boundless compassion of Jesus, who transcends traditional boundaries to restore and make whole those who are broken and marginalized. May we embody this same compassion and love, breaking down barriers and embracing those who are marginalized or excluded.
May we also recognize that our healing and wholeness come from God’s love and compassion, not our own efforts or observance of rules. Let us therefore strive to live out our faith in a way that reflects God’s desire to restore and make us whole and to bring healing and restoration to a broken world. This is our prayer through Christ, our Lord. Amen.
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