Sunday Readings Commentary and Reflections

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Sunday ReadingsCommentary and Reflections

• 6th Sunday in the Ordinary Time B
• February 15, 2015
• In preparation for this Sundays Liturgy
• As aid in focusing our homilies and sharing

Prepared by Fr. Cielo R. Almazan, OFM
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1st Reading Lev 13,1-2.44-46

• 1The LORD said to Moses and Aaron, 2 "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.
• 44 If the man is leprous and unclean, the priest
  shall declare him unclean by reason of the sore
  on his head. 45 "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! 46 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.

The focus is on leprosy.
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Textual Context
Structure of the Leviticus by Carmody   A Warning
against Molech and mediums and wizards (1-6)
B Be holy, for I am the Lord (7) C Keep
statutes and observe them (8) D Laws
(9-21) C Keep statutes and observe
them (22-25) B Be holy, for I the Lord am
holy (26) A Condemnation of mediums and wizards
(27)
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1st Reading Lev 13,1-2.44-46

• Commentary
• V.2 talks about skin diseases turning into
  leprosy and the need to bring the infected person
  to the priest for examination.
• The priests acted like sanitary inspectors and
  were in-charge of admission in the Temple. An
  unclean person was disqualified from
  participating in the worship.
• In v.44 a leper is considered automatically
  unclean because of the sore that is marked on his
  head.
• Vv.45-46 prescribe how a leper should appear /
  behave / live
• Keeps clothes torn.
• Keeps disheveled hair (unattractive, unkempt)
• Upper lip covered
• Cries out unclean (to warn people of his
  presence so that they would not get near him/her)
• Live alone (forced seclusion, cant live with
  loved ones)
• Dwells outside the camp (cant live in the
  community)

• Instructions in dealing with a leper
• 1The LORD said to Moses and Aaron, 2 "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.
• 44 If the man is leprous and unclean, the priest
  shall declare him unclean by reason of the sore
  on his head. 45 "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! 46 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.

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Reflections on the first reading

• It is terrible to be afflicted with leprosy.
• You are isolated from your family and your
  community. You are deprived of their love,
  comfort and support.
• Aside from the physical deformities, the leper
  suffers from deprivations and rejections, be they
  bodily, spiritually, economically, socially, and
  psychologically.
• The lepers suffering is made worse by the rules
  of religion and society.

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Resp. Psalm Ps 321-2, 5, 11

• R. (7) I turn to you, Lord, in time of trouble,
  and you fill me with the joy of salvation.
• 1 Blessed is he whose fault is taken away,whose
  sin is covered.2 Blessed the man to whom the
  LORD imputes not guilt,in whose spirit there is
  no guile.
• 5 Then I acknowledged my sin to you,my guilt I
  covered not.I said, "I confess my faults to the
  LORD,"and you took away the guilt of my sin.
• 11 Be glad in the LORD and rejoice, you
  justexult, all you upright of heart.

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Resp. Ps 321-2, 5, 11

• R. (7) I turn to you, Lord, in time of trouble,
  and you fill me with the joy of salvation.
• 1 Blessed is he whose fault is taken away, those
  sin is covered.2 Blessed the man to whom the
  LORD imputes not guilt,in whose spirit there is
  no guile.
• 5 Then I acknowledged my sin to you, my guilt I
  covered not.I said, "I confess my faults to the
  LORD,"and you took away the guilt of my sin.
• 11 Be glad in the LORD and rejoice, you
  justexult, all you upright of heart.

• Commentary
• The psalm is classified as thanksgiving hymn.
• The psalm acknowledges the joy of being forgiven
  by God.
• The expression used by the psalmist is blessed.
  vv.1-2
• V.5 relates the experience of the psalmist
  himself.
• First,
• He acknowledged his sin
• He did not cover it up
• He confessed
• Then
• God took his guilt away
• In v.11, the psalmist invites people, the just
  and the upright of heart, to celebrate Gods
  forgiveness.
• We know that people are made just and upright
  because God forgives them.

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Reflections on the Psalm

• There is joy in being forgiven.
• We are forgiven because we acknowledge our
  faults, sin and guilt.
• There is no forgiveness if we dont humbly accept
  our shortcomings.
• Only the humble and the forgiven has the capacity
  to celebrate and rejoice in the forgiving God.

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2nd Reading 1 Cor 10,3111,1

• 31 Whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do,
  do everything for the glory of God. 32 Avoid
  giving offense, whether to Jews or Greeks or the
  church of God, 33 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.
  11,1Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.

The focus is being charitable.
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2nd Reading 1 Cor 10,3111,1

• 31 Whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do,
  do everything for the glory of God. 32 Avoid
  giving offense, whether to Jews or Greeks or the
  church of God, 33 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.
  11,1Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.

• Commentary
• In v. 31, St. Paul encourages the faithful to do
  and live the basic rules of charity. You dedicate
  to God everything you do and all your activities.
• In v.32, Paul follows up his recommendation in v.
  31, by being more specific Give no offense
  (dont scandalize, be sensitive to their needs,
  dont turn them off) to all people (now divided
  into three Jews, Greeks, church).
• In v.33, Paul is more positive (to please
  everyone), meaning, that whatever he does will
  not be for his personal advantage but for the
  benefit of others. The reason that they may be
  saved.
• The last verse (11,1) summarizes what he is
  trying to say. He is not ashamed to say Be
  imitators of me (of course, Paul can say that
  not because he is a perfect man or he is
  self-conceited, but because he is an actual
  imitator of Christ).
• If they imitate his behavior, they are actually
  imitating Christ.

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Reflections on the 2nd reading

• Christian faith needs to be translated into
  Christian charity.
• Christian charity is not being offensive in words
  and deeds.
• The Christian should not scandalize anyone.
• The Christian should be respectful of other
  peoples culture and sensitivities.
• Christians may imitate Paul, who has striven to
  do all these things in his mission.

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Gospel Reading Mark 1,40-45
A simple outline!

• Cleansing of the Leper
• 40 A leper came to him and kneeling down, begged
  him and said, "If you wish, you can make me
  clean. 41 Moved with pity, he stretched out his
  hand, touched him, and said to him, "I do will
  it. Be made clean. 42 The leprosy left him
  immediately, and he was made clean.
• Instructions to the Leper
• 43 Then, warning him sternly, he dismissed him at
  once. 44 Then 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 violation of the leper and its effect on
  Jesus
• 45 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.

The focus is on the leper.
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Textual Context
1,148,33 Outline by Giblin PREACHING THE KINGDOM FROM THE CALL OF DISCIPLES TO PETERS CONFESSION
1,143,6 A. PREACHING THE KINGDOM, CALL AND DEFENSE OF THE DISCIPLES
  1. Jesus preaches after John the Baptist is betrayed, the good news that the kingdom is at hand. (Scene Galilee lakeside (1,16 2,13) to Capernaum (1,21), throughout Galilee (1,38-45), back to Capernaum (2,1-12) and by the lakeside.
1,162,12 1,16-20 1,21-34 1-35-45 2,1-12 2. First Group of Episodes Call of Simon and Andrew, James and John (to be fishers of men) A Day at Capernaum (teaching with power exorcism cures) Throughout Galilee (preaching exorcisms cure of leper) Return to Capernaum (preaching forgiveness and cure of paralytic)
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Gospel Reading Mark 1,40-45

• Cleansing of the Leper
• 40 A leper came to him and kneeling down, begged
  him and said, "If you wish, you can make me
  clean. 41 Moved with pity, he stretched out his
  hand, touched him, and said to him, "I do will
  it. Be made clean. 42 The leprosy left him
  immediately, and he was made clean.
• Instructions to the Leper
• 43 Then, warning him sternly, he dismissed him at
  once. 44 Then 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 violation of the leper and its effect on
  Jesus
• 45 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.

• Commentary
• V.40 presents the leper having faith in the power
  of Jesus over leprosy. The leper does not impose.
  He says, If you wish
• V.41 presents the positive response of Jesus, out
  of pity. Jesus shows his compassion toward the
  man.
• V.42 presents the immediate result of Jesus
  powerful act.
• In v.43, Jesus warns the cleansed man (not to
  broadcast to others) as he sends him away.

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Gospel Reading Mark 1,40-45

• Cleansing of the Leper
• 40 A leper came to him and kneeling down, begged
  him and said, "If you wish, you can make me
  clean. 41 Moved with pity, he stretched out his
  hand, touched him, and said to him, "I do will
  it. Be made clean. 42 The leprosy left him
  immediately, and he was made clean.
• Instructions to the Leper
• 43 Then, warning him sternly, he dismissed him at
  once. 44 Then 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 violation of the leper and its effect on
  Jesus
• 45 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.

• Jesus tells him to present himself to the priest
  instead (now he is qualified to participate in
  the temple liturgy).
• The priest should be able to conclude that
  something is going on outside the temple.
• V.45 shows the opposite. The cleansed man does
  not go to the priest, but to the people.
• He is not interested anymore in giving his
  message to the priest, but in proclaiming Jesus
  to the people.
• The result Jesus can no longer move around
  openly.
• Mark does not make this an issue.

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Reflection on the gospel reading

• We can be healed of our physical and spiritual
  deformities if we humbly approach Jesus, like the
  leper.
• In one way or another, we, Christians, are also
  lepers.
• We are sick of the leprosy of sin.
• People cant bear with us, because of our
  deformities like our bad behavior, false values,
  tactlessness, insensitivities, hypocrisies,
  insincerity, infidelity, carelessness, vices,
  etc.

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Reflection on the gospel reading

• Healing and change will lead us to proclaim the
  wonderful deeds of God and bring more people to
  Christ.
• Our healing can be a strong sign to those who are
  comfortably living, believing only in status quo.
• Our healing is a source of energy in drawing
  people to Jesus.

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Tying the 3 readings and the Psalm

• The first reading contains instructions on how to
  deal with lepers and how lepers should behave.
• The psalm is a prayer of joy for those who feel
  healed (forgiven).
• The second reading talks about being charitable
  to all kinds of people (lepers included).
• The gospel reading talks about how Jesus treats
  the leper and how the leper responds.

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How to develop your homily / sharing

• Have you seen lepers?
• Describe how they look like. Describe your
  feelings, reactions, etc.
• Imagine how they suffer physically, mentally and
  psychologically.

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• The first reading, Leviticus, contains
  instructions on how to deal with the lepers. To
  the modern mind, they are very harsh, inhuman and
  old fashioned (well, the sacred authors did not
  know exactly how to deal with the disease).
• We know better now because now leprosy can be
  treated (even without miracles), and it is no
  longer that highly contagious as it used to be.

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• The second reading teaches Christians to be
  charitable to everyone (not to give offense to
  anyone, esp. those who are afflicted with skin
  diseases, in connection with the first and gospel
  readings).
• No Christian has the right to discredit anyone
  because of his/her culture, gender, looks,
  tastes, beliefs and illness.
• It is a Christian imperative never to inflict
  pain upon others, to rub salt to injury, to add
  insult to injury, to make fun of old people and
  those who commit stupid mistakes in their lives.
• Christians must be able to treat them with
  patience, kindness and gentleness.

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• Paul exhorts us to be charitable always.
• We cannot accomplish anything good in our
  communities, if we yell at others who disagree
  with us, especially during meetings.
• We cannot form Christian communities or
  missionaries if we tirade and bulldoze them to
  conform to our plans or personal tastes.
• We cannot arrive at good and wise decisions if we
  base our arguments, not on reason, but on our
  ego, impulses, caprices, likes and dislikes, on
  our authority, money and on being patrons
  (patronage).

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• The gospel reading presents a story on how Jesus
  cleanses the leper.
• Jesus does not avoid him, instead he heals him.
• He has pity (compassion) on him.
• An act of compassion can heal a wounded person.
• We, Christians, should prioritize healing and
  restoration of our woundedness and that of
  others, in order to do more for Gods kingdom.
• Healings are signs that Gods kingdom is taking
  hold of us.
• Our churches must be churches of mercy and
  compassion.

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• In the eucharist, Jesus comes to us to heal us
  from our woundedness as a result of our
  infirmities and sin.
• In the eucharist, Jesus assures us, who have been
  made clean through repentance and sacrament of
  reconciliation, of his saving power.
• The eucharist is the sacrament, which maintains
  our spiritual health.
• The eucharist invites us to help out in the
  evangelizing and healing mission of Christ.

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Our Context of Sin and Grace

• Discrimination
• Rejection
• Inflicts wounds on others
• Spread of HIV
• Sexual transmission of diseases
• Unable to cope with pressures of vanity
• Stigma

• Dermatologists
• Medical research
• Therapists
• Counselors
• Healing ministry
• Healthy skin
• Comforting words
• Forgiveness
• Mental health programs

The End
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Suggested Songs

• Set Me Free
• http//www.youtube.com/watch?vPu8qdQZDPB4
• The Power of Touch (St. Francis)
• http//www.youtube.com/watch?vIUPdN69mFbY
• Thank you, Lord
• http//www.youtube.com/watch?vkIu2SBfu5vQ