Sixth Sunday Ordinary Time Cycle B
02/06/2021
February 14, 2021 Cycle B
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Video Clip...Gospel Fr. Greg Friedman
We can look at the horrors of Leprosy and feel sorry for those who were struck with such a disfiguring disease in the time of the Old Testament.
We can see in the above photos, those with the disease today, in poor countries, without proper modern medical help.
In the first reading, we hear is about the regulations that were set down to isolate those with the disease of leprosy. The disfigurement was bad enough, but the worst part was the isolation. Remember this was a time when everyone really depended on family and community. And when you were isolated from society, family, friends, you lost everything.
With this disease, in that time period, there was no hope for the person.
In the gospel reading we hear of the healing that Jesus did, which meant that the diseased person was not only healed physically, but also after the healing, could return to society, to family, to friends, to the community. That was the biggest part of the healing
Isolation is a real disease, and it is all around us today. We isolate ourselves, at times, from people who are different from ourselves, people we don't like, people we don't understand.
Sin isolates us.
Have you ever noticed that even our most secret sin affects us? In a sense, it isolates us. We know, deep down, that what we did or failed to do has isolated us. We don't quite feel right until we feel forgiven, or even worse, when we try to believe it was the fault of the other and we ignore the sin. That is always the trick of the devil so we don't see the sin and turn to Jesus the only healer.
Jesus is always there waiting to heal us. Waiting to forgive us. We can see the great compassion He has for the sick, the diseased, the sinner.
St. Paul in his letter encourages those he addressed, to do everything for the glory of God. We are called through our Baptism to be the presence of Christ for the world; that means all of us.
Around us are many, many people in isolation. Do we go out of our way to heal their isolation, their leprosy?
A smile, a greeting to a stranger, a willingness to listen when we really don't feel like it or have the time, can all be ways to offer a little healing to someone.
Look around this coming week and see if you don't find a person in isolation. Then go out of your way for them and be the presence of Christ for them.
And if you fail, as we all will at times, pray for the conversion to do it next time. You are called to heal.
Wow! Fr. Doug. You saved me again. I was really at a loss as to how to approach these readings for dismissal tomorrow. I hope you don't mind if I share the pictures. Great insights into isolation, rejection of those we see as damaged or different. You are the best!
Posted by: Patti Calabrese | 02/11/2012 at 06:15 PM