‘Of course I want to!'

 Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time Year B - 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.

Reflection from St Beuno's Outreach

I come into the presence of the Lord attentively, deliberately, meaningfully. Like the leper, I might be coming with a purpose, maybe even with a sense of urgency. Therefore, if I can, it may help to approach, like him, on my knees.

However I draw near, I could ponder the reason for my prayer.

Am I coming to praise, to ask, to plead or, perhaps, simply to be with?

As I read and reflect upon the Gospel, to where am I finding myself drawn?

What am I noticing about the leper and about Jesus’s response to him?

Jesus is not afraid to violate the law as he reaches out to touch the man. And the miracle of his touch reveals something about what Jesus considers ‘clean’ and ‘unclean.’

What does Jesus’s acceptance of the leper teach me? And, as I reflect on my life, what does Jesus’s acceptance of me tell me about myself?

The man then goes off to tell everyone about his story – he cannot contain himself. In what ways do I share his enthusiasm to make known God’s goodness in my own story?

I end my prayer by asking for the grace always to try to reach out to those whom society cuts off, and I pray for a spirit of compassion.

Our Father ...

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