This week’s Gospel message for Sunday, February 11th is from Mark 1:40-45.
A leper came to Jesus and kneeling down begged him and said, “If you wish, you can make me clean.” Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand, touched him, and said to him, “I do will it. Be made clean.” The leprosy left him immediately, and he was made clean. Then, warning him sternly, he dismissed him at once. . .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.
Reflection
“The leper recognized Jesus for more than a healer, for a healer could only cure an illness. The leper specifically asked to be made clean. He wanted the barrier between him and the community to be removed. In touching the man, Jesus would have been considered to have made himself impure. But far from making himself less than whole, he is making the community whole by restoring the leper to it.” SOURCE: Pastoral Patterns, Winter 2023-2024
DAILY READINGS FOR THE WEEK
Monday James 1:1-11; Mark 8:11-13
Tuesday James 1:12-18; Mark 8:14-21
Wednesday Joel 2:12-18; 2 Corinthians 5:20—6:2; Matthew 6:1-6,16-18
Thursday Deuteronomy 30:15-20; Luke 9:22-25
Friday Isaiah 58:1-9a; Matthew 9:14-15
Saturday Isaiah 58:9b-14; Luke 5:27-32