Dear Parish Family,
One of the great practices that you can cultivate to grow spiritually is to prepare for the Sunday Eucharistic encounter by way of preparation for it. Here is one way! Know ahead the Readings for the Mass especially the Gospel. To get the readings you can check on our Parish Bulletin (hope you carried one home!). You can always see the Bulletin on our website www.stjohnspiermont.org. You could ‘mind-guess’ what the preaching will focus on and also the content of my reflections on this column of the Bulletin each week. The ‘guessing game’ is an interesting way to engage in deeper reflection! The Sunday Gospel readings are told by Mark this year (last year by Matthew). During the season of Lent we will shift to a theme based readings and will get back to Mark on June 10. Mark is direct and uses fewer words. He always helps us get the texture of the story, to listen with our imaginations, and to let Jesus’ life enter in. He has many concrete details. For instance, last week Jesus did not just “cure” Peter’s mother-in-law, he “grasped her hand, and helped her up.” And when Jesus stills the storm at sea, he is not just “in the boat,” but, according to Mark he is “at the stern” of it. And he is not just asleep, but sleeping “on a cushion”!
So, what about Mark’s Gospel this week-end? A man walks up to Jesus covered with scales and scabs. According to prescriptions (found in our First Reading) the man should “dwell apart, making his abode outside the camp.” Thus, as long as the sores are on him he should ring a bell and cry “Unclean, unclean!” The ancient society protected itself from communicable disease by forceful segregation of the infected individuals. In approaching Jesus in the manner he does, the man is committing a terrible social blunder and he may be breaking the law too!
In the face of all this, Jesus is not repulsed or shocked, he is “moved with pity.” Just three words, but they tell us so much. The ‘moving with pity’ is an action-packed emotion as it brings together, compassion action and wellbeing for both the giver and receiver! Then a wonderful statement from the leper. “If you want to, you can make me clean.” What? Of course our savior wants to! Yet these words are a confession of faith on the part of the leper. Where did he get this trust of Jesus? Maybe his spiritual life had already begun. Jesus’ remarkable answer: “I do want to.” Direct, honest, so revealing of God. The whole life of Jesus consists of a desire to give to people who are in trouble and who believe, even if they have only a small faith by which to receive, as well as large wounds.
In an extraordinary move, Jesus stretches out his hand and touches the man. As noted, the ancients thought that Leprosy was communicable, and at the very least disgusting. But Jesus touched him with care and said, “Be made clean.” Our spiritual life consists of being “made clean,” no matter how disgusting our failings may be. We must receive Jesus’ touch, especially his touch upon our souls. Spirituality and the Gospel have coincided in today’s gift of the sacred Scripture. Why don’t you look up the Gospel for the coming week? (Page 4 below the column ‘Today’s Readings”.
Fr. Tom Kunnel C.O.