I Do Will It

 6^th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year  B

Mk1 1:40-45          Moved with pity, Jesus said, “I do will it. Be cured.”

February 12, 2012

Mark tells us that the leper came to Jesus. Knowing that Jesus had the power to heal him, the leper knelt down in front of Jesus and begged him, “If you wish, you can make me clean.”

This deeply affected Jesus. Mark writes: “Moved with pity, Jesus stretched out his hand, touched him, and said: “I do will it. Be cured.”

It is coincidental that the word “leper” written backwards spells “repel” – for that was truly the effect of leprosy – the fear of contracting the dreaded disease and the leper’s unsightly appearance. The primary concern of the Church in discussing leprosy because of faith. Have you ever seriously reflected on the effect of fin on yourself? Leprosy does to the face what sin does to the soul – it makes one ugly and repelling. By the blood of Christ, however, we have been cleansed of that ugliness. So the story is really not about the leper who was cured. Rather, it is about you and me – right here and now – who have been healed of sin and eternal death by our compassionate Savior.

Like the leper who cried out for healing, we now pray:

ALMIGHTY FATHER, HELP US TO REACH OUT TO PEOPLE WE IGNORE. INCREASE OUR FAITH AND ACCEPT OUR PRAYERS IN THE NAME OF YOUR SON JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD. AMEN