Homily for the Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B

 

JESUS DOES NOT DISCRIMINATE

Fr. Ugochukwu Ugwoke, ISch

Readings: Leviticus 13:1-2, 44-46, 1 Corinthians 10:31-11:1, Mark 1:40-45

 

With the healing of the leper in the gospel reading of this Sunday, the evangelist Mark presents to us the warmth of Jesus’ humanity and his unreserved concern toward the plight of those who suffer. Already in the first reading, we saw the Old Testament laws and regulations with regard to persons suffering from leprosy. In the ancient times (mostly), leprosy was a dreaded disease that required the sufferer to be exiled from the society and isolated from the rest of the people. When a man has the mark of leprosy, he must go about like a mourner; that is, he must tear his clothes, leave his hair unkempt, and cover his moustache and he must be segregated from ordinary human society, ostracized and cut off from any fellowship with the rest of the house of Israel. He shall remain isolated and considered unclean as long as the disease lasts (Lev. 13:1-2, 44-46).

But in the gospel reading, Jesus comes in contact with a certain man suffering from leprosy. The man came to Jesus and kneeling before him, prayed him to make him clean if it was his will (Mark 1:40). Nobody knows how long the man must have borne this disease in isolation. But the desperation in his voice is a clear proof that he was already at his wits’ end. He was already tired of the stigmatization. He had long longed to be reunited with the human society. Breaking every barrier (Lev. 15:16-18), Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him and immediately, the leprosy left him and he was made clean.

According to the Law of Moses, the leper was not supposed to come close to other people. There is this belief that in the time of Jesus, lepers had bells tied to their clothes to signal other people of their presence whenever they are approaching where others are. But despite these strict regulations, the leper came forward to Jesus. He was not ashamed to open up his sores to Jesus. Most often, we are ashamed to seek medical, physical, psychological or spiritual healing because we feel ashamed of our diseases, inadequacies, weaknesses and the wounds of our sins. Today is a good day for you to conquer that inhibiting fear. Go seek the help that you need. Tell it to Jesus!

Leprosy is a disease that involves decay and putrefaction of the living body. That is why as a result of its loathsomeness, it required the person to be cut off from any fellowship with the rest of the people. It is in this regard that leprosy is seen as an appropriate type of what happens to a man when he sins. Sin introduces decay and corruption into the spiritual realm similar to what leprosy does in the physical realm. In the ancient times, a sinful person was cut off and could not be a part of the Lord’s true covenant people. The same is the case with one who had leprosy. However, Jesus has come to heal us of our physical and spiritual diseases and to unite us with the Father. Sin is a spiritual leprosy and like the leper in the gospel reading, we have to approach Jesus and beckon on him to heal us.

Finally, in our time, there are those whom the society still treats like those who suffer from leprosy. The osu/ohu syndrome that still exists in our different cultures is a case in point. Dear friend, the liturgy of today wants us to reach out to those who are discriminated against as a result of one condition or the other. Also, we are urged to avoid every form of segregation or discrimination based on tribe, color, creed, sex, or race. As St. Paul tells us in the second reading, in the body of Christ, there is no division between Jews and Greeks. May the Lord heal us of all our physical and spiritual wounds and divisions. Amen.