Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time Year B 2024

Leprosy is both an isolating disease and a symbol for evil. We see Jesus touching the leper because he could heal and yet sending the healed leper to the divinely appointed priests to thank God and be restored to society in the proper way. Likewise we see Paul not being willing to compromise the faith but being willing to adjust to the culture of both Jews and Greeks so as to give no offense to anyone, even the church, so that his behavior would draw all to salvation. This has numerous applications in our lives of which a few are given.

Notes

Transcript

Title

Treating Lepers

Outline

Leprosy was a terrible disease

From the symptoms list we see that it included not just Hansen’s disease, but a number of skin, clothing, and even house infections and molds. The diagnosis was made by a priest, which alerts us that more than the problem of physical contagion is going on here. The result was separation from his or her people, even spouse or children, and visual and oral warnings to others not to come near.

We are immediately reminded of the treatment of sinners in church discipline in the early centuries, the one difference being that a penitent could hope for a eventual restoration and was not necessarily cut off from family outside church.

This similarity is because the Church has always read leprosy as spiritually indicating sin.

Now look at Jesus in Mark

The leper comes close but unlike the woman later does not touch Jesus. He has faith, but even in his worship he does not know if he dare hope: “If you wish, you can make me clean.”

Unlike the priest Jesus does not examine him looking for signs of disease. Unlike the priest and the rest of society he does not just speak, but “stretched out his hand [and] touched him.” Then he spoke: “I do will it. Be made clean.” And it was so, visibly so.

While Jesus can heal rather than just diagnose, as a good Jew he does not tell the man to ignore the Torah, but to “show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses prescribed.” The thanks to God came in the prescribed way and the diagnosis of “cured” and restoration to society came through the prescribed priestly determination.

I am reminded of a Protestant leader whom I knew, John Wimber, who when someone experienced relief through prayer made it clear that medications should be taken until a doctor said they were not needed and while God should be thanked, the results of prayer should be called symptomatic abatement until a doctor pronounced them “healed.”

Jesus heals, which no priest could do, but for restoration to society he instructs that the divinely appointed procedure should be followed. [Except for those not Israelites.]

So Paul applies this attitude

“Whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God.” And this did not just apply to Jews or to interactions with the Torah observant, but to all: “Avoid giving offense, whether to Jews or Greeks or the church of God.” That makes some behavior situational: maybe the disciples should have washed their hands before meals - at least it would have been prudential.

Paul’s example is “I try to please everyone in every way, not seeking my own benefit but that of the many, that they may be saved.” Obviously, he will not violate Christian morals, but he did address pagan and semi-pagan rulers respectfully and adopt their clothing and diet within the limits of modesty and virtue. But that also means that he was situational in what was not moral, sensitive to what he was communicating culturally, whether to Jews or pagans.

There is a lot for us here

First, there is the taking of sin seriously, for while it may start small, if not cured it will not only cut us off from God but also cut us off from others. And it is contagious. But be of good cheer, for Jesus can heal, not just diagnose. Yet get to him while it is small.

Second, be wise in your behavior. Our goal is to draw people to or closer to God, even our sisters. Virtue is a narrow path, as Jesus said, for while it avoids evil on the left, it also avoids offensive over-virtuousness that we might call Pharisaism on the right. If you catch yourself judging others you likely are seeing yourself slipping to the right.

This also might help us know how to deal with the liturgical wars in the church.

Third, this may help you read some of the documents and off-hand statements Pope Francis has put out. He is evangelistically sensitive and goes as far as he can in being welcoming without changing Catholic ethical and dogmatic teaching.

More could be said on these and other applications of these texts, but I will leave that for your meditation. I share what I believe God taught me in reflecting on them.