Weekly Missionary Reflection
6th Ordinary Sunday, 11 February 2024
Lev. 13:1-2,45-46; Ps. 32:1-2,5,11; 1Cor. 10:31 – 11:1; Mark 1:40-45
Judaism at the time of Jesus emphasized the principle of clean and unclean. Believing in the Holy God means endeavoring to live holily. For the sake of holiness, any uncleanliness had to be avoided. All clean and unclean matters were listed and classified. Those ‘boundaries’ and ‘gates’ were controlled and guarded. Human body (such as skin and mouth) as well as gates and borders. Group and community boundaries were also controlled through marriage between the same ethnicity and religion. Skin disease was the proof that body boundary was not controlled, that the body fluid could come out, while it should stay inside. Therefore, a leper should be avoided and he should isolate himself. He was not allowed to join any worship and social life (Deu. 28:27). Until his cleanliness was restored (through ceremony and healing), that person would remain marginal: socially and religiously marginalized. Religion with a clean-unclean system tends to be unfair, as they isolate anyone labeled as “unclean”. The point is holiness had to be maintained, uncleanliness and the unclean must be avoided. Those are believed as the law of God!
The leper in today’s Gospel didn’t want to be a forever sickman. He fought and spoke up. Message from the leper: never keep silent and let injustice rule! He came to Jesus and spoke up, even though this action was prohibited by the Torah Law that allowed the leper only to cry out of his leprosy (Lev. 13:45-46). The leper’s initiative of socio-religious oppression was immediately responded to by Jesus. He reached out His hand and touched the unclean. By doing so, Jesus also broke the Law of the Torah (Lev. 5:3, Num. 5:2). Yet Jesus didn’t care. Religious law that humiliates humans doesn’t come from God! For Jesus, a religion must be based on compassion. Today Jesus shows the motherly face as the most merciful God. In a religion compassion and holiness do not need to be protected by any law of clean-unclean, instead, they must be shared through touching and loving action. The loving touch of the Lord is the means to share holiness. The leper is healed and becomes clean. His position in society is restored: from a marginalized person to a recognized individual. He is welcome as a full member of God’s people. Jesus presents the embracing God, not the God who marginalizes humans, God who loves, not favors!
Jesus sternly asked the leper not to spread out this miracle. Why? Because the Kingdom of God is often narrowed down to physical fitness and well-being. Jesus wants us to focus not on the healing, but on the openness to accept God’s sovereignty in ourselves and the world. The impact will be real: we are religious without forbidding others. Compassion will break down any boundaries and separations made and multiplied by humans. God’s holiness must be expanded, not protected by our own personal piety and narrow-minded group.
(Hortensius Mandaru – Indonesian Bible Society)
DAILY DEDICATED PRAYER
Lord, our Father, I present my today prayer, thought, word, work, joy, and sorrow in unity with Your Son, Jesus Christ, who always presents Himself in the Eucharist for the salvation of the world. May the Holy Spirit animating Jesus, also be my guidance and strength today so that I am ready to be the witness of Your love.
Together with Mary, Mother of Jesus, and the Church, in particular, I present my prayer for our Pope and apostle prayer of the Indonesian Church this month:
Universal Church Intent: For the terminally ill
We pray that those with a terminal illness and their families, receive the necessary physical and spiritual care and accompaniment.
Indonesian Church Intent: General election
We pray that Indonesian citizens with the right to vote are granted wisdom and a clear heart to elect people’s representatives and national leaders who prioritize public interest.
Amen.
Situs Resmi Karya Misi Kepausan Indonesia (KMKI) 