A Homily – The Sixth Sunday of Ordinary Time (Year B)

First Reading – Leviticus 13:1-2, 44-46 ©

Responsorial Psalm – Psalm 31(32):1-2, 5, 11 ©

Second Reading – 1 Corinthians 10:31-11:1 ©

Gospel Acclamation – Ephesians 1:17, 18

Alternative Acclamation – Luke 7:16

The Gospel According to Mark 1:40 – 45 ©

 

(NJB)

 

Listen!

 Consider the reading from Leviticus articulating the grounds on which you may cast a person out, the leper, or anyone with a lesion on their skin that will not heal. This is not the way, Jesus embraced the leper, he healed them. His ministry was directed toward outcasts, unmarried women, roman soldiers, tax collectors, Samaritans, the sick and the diseased.

 Know this!

 All sins are forgiven by God, it is easy for the divine; grace flows as easily as the kindness of a loving parent. It is difficult for us to forgive each other, but it is not difficult for God, with whom all things are possible. It is a much more difficult proposition for to accept forgiveness, from each other and even from God.

 It is impossible to hide our sins, our guilt from God; for God knows us even as we know ourselves, we cannot hide our anger or self-loathing, God knows us better than we know ourselves and God understand all things.

 Remember.

 We are easily led into error, and susceptible to self-deception, it is common trait that all human being are liable to.

 The psalmist asks us to observe the people all around us, their state of being; and to bear witness to the fact that we are all beautiful and fragile, imperfect things…creatures. The psalmist asks us to bear witness to how we endure misery in our guilt, we carry it until we are able to admit our faults and ask forgiveness, We are encumbered by our anger until we are able to forgive those who have hurt us.

 Jesus bore witness to those truths and encouraged his followers to walk the path of humility, the path of love and mercy, to seek reconciliation through forgivness, to forgive and be forgiven…this is the way.

 Consider the wisdom of the apostle:

 He taught us that we are together, in this life and the next; we are one. Truly, we are one people; one being, one body as the apostle says. We are not made one through baptism, confession, and the other sacraments. We are one because God created us this way, in and through the divine-self, the sacraments are merely visible signs of this eternal truth.

 Understand this.

 The relationships we have with each other are real. Our relationships (far and near), are a part of who we are. They belong to our essential nature. Even the relationships we have with people we do not know are constituent elements of our being.

 We are in relationship with all those future generations of people that have yet to be born, we are in relationship with them as we are with the past, as we are the totality of what is now. Therefore, how we behave toward one of our neighbors, is truly how we treat ourselves, it directly reflects our love for God and demonstrates our commitment to the way.

 Take the time to be a model of God’s love, as Paul attempts to do, model that love at all times in all places, to all people…insofar as you are able.

 This is the way and there is no other.

 Do this in remembrance of Jesus, and God whom he called Father.

 Be mindful.

 There is hope in the knowledge of God.

 Take the hope you have for yourself, and extend that hope to everyone…this is the way.

 If you think that God has promised riches and glories, a great treasure as an inheritance for the saints: remember, that the first will be last and the last will be first, heavenly riches are not counted in gold and silver and precious things.

 The Church is meant to be a guardian of the meek and a caretaker of the sick, to defy the conventions of modern life, to seek the blessing of the divine through service to your community. We are meant to be advocates for mercy in the interest of justice, and to be humble all the days of our life.

 Consider the Gospel for today.

 The ministry of Jesus was that of a healer. He healed the body of disease, he freed the minds and the hearts of his followers.

 Jesus’ intention was not to subvert the existing order or to encourage people to abandon the temple. He did not aim to overthrow the priesthood, or to undermine the law. Jesus did not seek fame for himself or to be rewarded for the fruit of his ministry and service. Nevertheless, people sought him out, and as a consequence he was forced to teach and perform his ministry beyond the margins of society.

 His ministry grew until he was forced to become an itinerant preacher. He was followed by large crowds and could not stay in one place too long. His ministry continued to grow until it attracted the attention of the entrenched powers and became a threat to the general social order…and then they killed him.

 His ministry was fruitful because it was rooted in love, because it was fearless, and because he was an authentic servant of the people.

 

First Reading – Leviticus 13:1-2, 44-46 ©

The Unclean Man Must Live Outside the Camp

The Lord said to Moses and Aaron, ‘If a swelling or scab or shiny spot appears on a man’s skin, a case of leprosy of the skin is to be suspected. The man must be taken to Aaron, the priest, or to one of the priests who are his sons.

‘The man is leprous: he is unclean. The priest must declare him unclean; he is suffering from leprosy of the head. A man infected with leprosy must wear his clothing torn and his hair disordered; he must shield his upper lip and cry, “Unclean, unclean.” As long as the disease lasts he must be unclean; and therefore he must live apart: he must live outside the camp.’

 

Responsorial Psalm – Psalm 31(32):1-2, 5, 11 ©

You are my refuge, O Lord; you fill me with the joy of salvation.

Happy the man whose offence is forgiven,

  whose sin is remitted.

O happy the man to whom the Lord

  imputes no guilt,

  in whose spirit is no guile.

You are my refuge, O Lord; you fill me with the joy of salvation.

But now I have acknowledged my sins;

  my guilt I did not hide.

I said: ‘I will confess

  my offence to the Lord.’

And you, Lord, have forgiven

  the guilt of my sin.

You are my refuge, O Lord; you fill me with the joy of salvation.

Rejoice, rejoice in the Lord,

  exult, you just!

O come, ring out your joy,

  all you upright of heart.

You are my refuge, O Lord; you fill me with the joy of salvation.

 

Second Reading – 1 Corinthians 10:31-11:1 ©

Take Me for your Model, as I Take Christ

Whatever you eat, whatever you drink, whatever you do at all, do it for the glory of God. Never do anything offensive to anyone – to Jews or Greeks or to the Church of God; just as I try to be helpful to everyone at all times, not anxious for my own advantage but for the advantage of everybody else, so that they may be saved. Take me for your model, as I take Christ.

 

Gospel Acclamation – Ephesians 1:17, 18

Alleluia, alleluia!

May the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ enlighten the eyes of our mind, so that we can see what hope his call holds for us.

Alleluia!

 

Alternative Acclamation – Luke 7:16

Alleluia, alleluia!

A great prophet has appeared among us; God has visited his people.

Alleluia!

 

The Gospel According to Mark 1:40 – 45 ©

The Leprosy Left the Man at Once, and He Was Cured

A leper came to Jesus and pleaded on his knees: ‘If you want to’ he said ‘you can cure me.’ Feeling sorry for him, Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him. ‘Of course I want to!’ he said. ‘Be cured!’ And the leprosy left him at once and he was cured. Jesus immediately sent him away and sternly ordered him, ‘Mind you say nothing to anyone, but go and show yourself to the priest, and make the offering for your healing prescribed by Moses as evidence of your recovery.’ The man went away, but then started talking about it freely and telling the story everywhere, so that Jesus could no longer go openly into any town, but had to stay outside in places where nobody lived. Even so, people from all around would come to him.

 

The Sixth Sunday of Ordinary Time (Year B)