HOMILY FOR THE SIXTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR B (5)

XIR222724 Jesus Healing the Leper, 1864 (oil on canvas) by Doze, Jean-Marie Melchior (1827-1913) oil on canvas 105x135 Musee des Beaux-Arts, Nimes, France Giraudon French, out of copyright

HOMILY FOR THE SIXTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR B

HOMILY THEME : IF YOU WISH YOU CAN MAKE ME CLEAN

BY: Fr. Benny Tuazon

 

HOMILY:

(Mk. 1:40-45)
In the day’s Gospel, the Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Jesus cures a leper.

Leprosy was a dreaded disease during Jesus’ times. It is a reflection of the uncleanliness of men and society. One who is clean should not touch much more, get near a leper. That is why they were considered outcasts. They were thrown away outside the city where they could not mix with the people. They were left for dead. But Jesus changed that idea.

In the first place, there was a prevailing idea then that leprosy was a divine chastisement. It was seen as a punishment by God. Was it? But if that was the case, why would Jesus heal them? He would have left them suffer. The truth was, it was the result of man’s choices. Sicknesses, like leprosy, were the result of a lot of circumstances in the life of men. Jesus, by touching them and healing them proved that it was not of God and that those in dehumanizing situations should be cared for. Contrary to the common belief, touching them does not make us unclean, rather humanises those who have been dehumanized by sickness o or social circumstances.

Mother Teresa of Calcutta gave a good example of this. She was a model of charity. The apostolate of the very congregation she founded, The Sisters of Charity, exemplified what she had witnessed in her life. She cared for the discriminated, untouchables, dehumanized and destitute. It was very Christian-like. Jesus destroyed the common belief not to mix with the unclean. Instead, He showed that by caring for the sick, one does not get sick, rather, brings healing, both body and soul.

This is also the call to all of us. Christians destroy barriers which tend to add to the dehumanization of fellow human beings. We mingle with them. We live, eat, sleep and even care for them, if necessary. Abandoning or outcasting them does not make us remain clean and they, unclean.It is in serving them that they are rescued for their disadvantageous situation.

Discover more from Catholic For Life

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading