Saturday, February 11, 2006
6TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
FEBRUARY 12, 2006
6TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME - B
LEVITICUS 13:1-2, 44-46
The Lord said to Moses and Aaron, "If someone has on his skin a scab
or pustule or blotch which appears to be the sore of leprosy, he
shall be brought to Aaron, the priest, or to one of the priests
among his descendants. If the man is leprous and unclean, the priest
shall declare him unclean by reason of the sore on his head. "The
one who bears the sore of leprosy shall keep his garments rent and
his head bare, and shall muffle his beard; he shall cry
out, 'Unclean, unclean!' As long as the sore is on him he shall
declare himself unclean, since he is in fact unclean. He shall dwell
apart, making his abode outside the camp."
1 CORINTHIANS 10:31--11:1
Brothers and sisters, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do,
do everything for the glory of God. Avoid giving offense, whether to
the Jews or Greeks or the church of God, just as I try to please
everyone in every way, not seeking my own benefit but that of the
many, that they may be saved. Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.
MARK 1:40-45
A leper came to Jesus and kneeling down begged him and said, "If you
wish, you can make me clean." Moved with pity, he stretched out his
hand, touched him, 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. 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.
REFLECTION
The Gospels often use that strong anatomical verb on Jesus. His
bowels "stirred with compassion." Time and again Jesus was touched
(stirred with compassion) - touched with pity, with compassion, for
all kinds of human suffering - for a crowd of thousands that had
stayed with him three days and had nothing to eat: "I am unwilling
to send them away hungry, lest they faint on the way."(Mark 8:2-3)
His bowels "stirred with compassion" for all kinds of sick people
who had followed him to a lonely place; for a widow whose only son
died before her eyes. The father of an epileptic appealed to
the "bowels of [his] compassion" to help his foaming, convulsing
son. And in today's Gospel, Jesus' bowels "stirred with compassion"
for a leper in the dust crying, "If you will, you can make me clean."
But that is only half of the picture. When touched, what did Jesus
do? When touched, he touches. When the bowels of his compassion
are stirred, he reaches out, he touches the hand of a dead 12-year
old girl (Mark 5:41), the hand of Peter's mother-in-law suffering
from fever (Mark 1:31), the epileptic boy (Mark 9:27), the eyes of
two blind men outside Jericho (Matt. 20:34), the ears and tongue of
a deaf man with speech impediment (Mark 7:33), the right ear of the
high priest's slave cut off by Peter, the poor swordsman (Luke
22:51). All these he touched. When Peter was sinking in the sea,
Jesus "reached out his hand and caught him." (Matt. 14:28-31) He not
only bless the children, he "took them in his arms." At the Last
Supper he lovingly washed the feet of his disciples (John 13:4-5).
One of the things that stand out in the Gospels is that Jesus was a
man of compassion. He certainly could feel with, identify himself
with the suffering people. In today's Gospel, a leper is somebody
everybody will avoid - even today.
It is here that we see the compassion of Jesus. His bowel stirred
with compassion. He not only healed the leper, but he reached out
and touched him - a gesture of love and caring, even if this
touching would render Jesus him legally "unclean" for temple worship.
Have you ever felt the touch of Jesus upon you? Try to take a
moment to feel the healing touch of Jesus on your head or on your
shoulder. Feel him embracing you in his love. Hear his
words, "Your sins are forgiven. Be made clean." "Open your eyes,
your ears, and your tongue. Stand and walk."
Touch has many faces. There is the touch of the terrorist: cold,
cruel, and destructive. There is the touch of the rapist and serial
killer: secret, lustful, and pathological. There is the touch of
the swindler: smooth, cunning, and deceptive. And there is the
touch of someone who cares: at once strong and gentle, the kind of
touch that brings healing and peace - the touch of Christ.
To be effective, touch does not have to be physical. Skin touches
skin is powerful beyond compare if... if it is a symbol, if it says
something like, "I care" or "I'm sorry" or "I love you." But
whether you make skin contact or not is not always important; what
is important always is that you are reaching out. It is hearts that
have to touch, even when hands do not.
Give yourself! Follow Christ in his compassion. Walk the same old
Jericho road, but now with eyes open, heart outstretched. Time and
again you'll come upon someone - friend, enemy, stranger - someone
who calls to you weakly - for a little of your life, a touch of your
heart.
If you hear that silent cry, try not to pass by on the other side.
That silent cry ... it just might be Jesus.
PRAYER REQUESTS
We pray ...
- for a deep and profound respect for life, especially for the
unborn.
- for the safe travel of Fe.
- for the personal intentions and success of Antoniette Lao,
Catherine Librando, Alimar Nassaei, Joel Salahudin and the rest of
the examinees of the SWU-College of Medicine. May the Holy Spirit
guide them in their endeavors.
- good health for Papa Fabio, Papa Raul, Mama Baby, Mama Terry.
- for the personal intentions of all the members of the Dapo family.
- for the special intentions of Jojo and Sheila.
- in thanksgiving for all the blessings received by Josheil.
- for special intentions of the Balingit family.
- for the spiritual and physical healing of Janina Alberto.
- for the spiritual and physical healing of Beth.
- for all the prayer intentions in the MTQ Dailyprayer Diary.
- Birthday: Diane Stephanie Ching
- Prayer Intention: Nañagas Family
- In Memoriam (+):Marcos Cu (1938-2000)
- In Memoriam (+): Jess Tiomico
- for world peace and reconciliation.
Finally, we pray for one another, for those who have asked our
prayers and for those who need our prayers the most.
Have a good day!
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