Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Mk 1:40-45
February 11, 2024

If Netflix was to make this Gospel into a “limited mini-series” that concluded this very dramatic story with Jesus going off alone to pray (which, by the way, He often did after most miraculous events), there would be a whole lot of disappointed viewers. Mark leaves us with numerous unanswered questions. Is it possible that there are “bonus lessons” to be had from reflecting on what we are NOT told?

How would “Season 2” look?

EPISODE 1: Why did the man disregard The Lord’s instructions to “tell no one?”

In a way, this healing/cleansing was a “sacramental moment,” much like Baptism or Reconciliation, which are “special” graced encounters with The Holy Spirit. Furthermore, this miracle restored the man to the community, which had banished him out of fear. This brings to mind Pope Francis’s remark that Eucharist is not a reward for the righteous, but a healing remedy for those who are sick. When we take advantage of these graced moments…these encounters with the Holy Spirit…how can we not rejoice? How can we keep it secret? The joy simply flows out of us.

EPISODE 2: What happened when the man “showed himself to the priests?”

It would seem that the proper response from all witnesses would have been “wonder and awe.” However, throughout the Gospels, we learn that this was not always the case, even with the religious leaders. How did they respond when the healed man presented himself? Were they skeptical, looking for explanations beyond Jesus’s miraculous powers? Did ignorance or arrogance cause them to ask the question raised on other occasions when The Lord’s Divine Powers were on display, By whose authority does this man do these things?

Jesus touched the leper. Would they have accused Him of endangering the entire community, risking the spread of the disease? They most certainly would have seen Jesus as having been left “impure” Himself in need of cleansing because of the contact with the leper.

What we can say with certainty is that the Lord moved above the Law set out in the Book of Leviticus and responded to the pleas of the leper with LOVE. But then, Jesus directed the now cleansed man to comply with the established Law, sending him to the priests and directing him to make the proper sacrifice. From this, are we to remember that The Law of Love is the first and most important…but that the established Law stands?

EPISODE 3: What happened when the man returned home?

This is one of the more dramatic and detailed reports of the many healing miracles. In desperation, the afflicted man violated the strict laws of quarantine. He approached Jesus at the risk of being stoned to death on the spot. He knelt and pleaded. Of course, The Lord’s response was to brush aside all of the reasons why He should not have engaged in conversation with this person. Moved with compassion, The Lord declared His desire to cleanse the man and restore him to health and to the community. Would the community which had banished him been as accepting? Through this miracle, The Lord certainly made a brilliant showing of His Divine powers. He healed, cleansed, forgave, and restored. All of this was also a challenge to the community to do the same. Would they have welcomed him back?

Conclusion: What are the “bonus lessons?”

How would you conclude this mini-series?

It’s not difficult to change the word “leper” to any number of other words we so often use to justify our snap judgments…righteous condemnations…severe punishments. In order to protect our community…our way of thinking…our privileged positions…who might we marginalize or exclude? Who would we purge in order to protect ourselves? Who do we fear will contaminate us?

How will you deal with “those people?”

Do you have the compassion to end the story with a “graced moment?”

Good-bye…and GOOD NEWS!