Moved With Pity

 

 Mk 1:40-45

Jesus Heals a Man With Leprosy

⁴⁰ A man with leprosy came to him and begged him on his knees, “If you are willing, you can make me clean.”

⁴¹ Jesus was indignant. He reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” ⁴² Immediately the leprosy left him and he was cleansed.

⁴³ Jesus sent him away at once with a strong warning: ⁴⁴ “See that you don’t tell this to anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the sacrifices that Moses commanded for your cleansing, as a testimony to them.” ⁴⁵ Instead he went out and began to talk freely, spreading the news. As a result, Jesus could no longer enter a town openly but stayed outside in lonely places. Yet the people still came to him from everywhere.

The word, "indignant" in verse 41 might raise our eyebrows. Why would Jesus be indignant, or angry? A better translation uses the phrase, "moved with pity", and so he was and so he healed the man with two words, "Be clean," and in Latin, one word, "Mundare". Jesus spent much of his public life having pity on the sick and lame, giving us a clear picture of his loving heart that touched people and healed them.

This year the memorial of Our Lady of Lourdes falls on this Sunday and is not celebrated in deference to the Sixth Sunday of Ordinary Time but we can't help but think of the millions who have traveled to Lourdes and the thousands who have been healed since the apparitions in 1858. We all stand in need of healing, physically  or spiritually and see that Jesus and his mother know that need too and continue to do something about it. Lent begins on Wednesday, a time for  spiritual renewal and healing. May we not be afraid to ask for whatever healing we need and be confident that Jesus  and Mary will do what is best for us.

Bro. Rene

Dear Jesus, "If you wish, you can make me clean."  Amen.