6th Sunday of Ordinary Time, 14th February, 2021

Gospel: Mark 1: 40-45
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 Gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

Donal Neary SJ
Gospel Reflections
www.messenger.ie/bookshop/

People make a Difference

Any story involving leprosy is a story of inclusiveness with Jesus. The people whom nobody wanted were deep in his heart.  Jesus wanted to make his life better and in this case, the man was cured. The news spread of this new religious man, a prophet maybe, but one who went where nobody else would go.

Jesus sees into the heart and there he finds a home, because God his Father lives in each of us. His motivation is his deep relationship with all of us. He will cleanse any of the unacceptable sides of ourselves so that we see ourselves as image of God, forgiven and clean. Can we see others like that?

Who would be those he would reach today like this? Maybe the people who want to change their lives from condemnation by self and others.  We can name them often, and our society can be cruel on prisoners and their families, abusers of any sort, prostitutes, victims    of AIDS and many others. He offers a way out of condemnation and that is often through the goodness and care of another. When we come to him, we meet his followers, and that also can make a difference.

Recall someone who made a difference in your life at a bad time.
Give thanks for it!
Jesus, healer of souls, heal what keeps me from loving like you.

Gospel and Gosple Reflection are taken from  Mass Readings and Sunday Homily - Catholicireland.net.