14 Jan
Thu
1st Week in Ordinary Time
1 Sam. 4:1-11
Ps. 43(44): 10-11,14-15,24-25
Mk. 1:40-45
(Ps Wk I)
How To Pray With Shalom
Home Page of Shalom
Index of This Month
 

Lepers (including people with other skin diseases) were among the most piteous of people in scriptural times. Although little was known of the origin of the sickness, it was clearly known to be contagious and therefore greatly feared. The only solution was to isolate the victim and not allow him/her to approach people. So, apart from the appalling physical disintegration of body and limbs, there was the social ostracism, the contempt and the fear which the victim engendered.

The leper in the story indicates his great faith and trust in Jesus. "If you wish, you can make me clean," he says. Jesus is filled with a deep sense of compassion for the man's plight. And in doing so Jesus does the unthinkable - he reaches out to touch the leper. This must have been a healing act in itself. The leper was by definition untouchable. "I do will it." says Jesus, "Be made clean." The man is immediately healed. He is then told to go to the priests to make the customary offering of thanksgiving and be re-admitted to society. We may ask who are the lepers in our society today? One very obvious group are those who have contracted contagious diseases like HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases which are becoming ever more widespread. There are other marginal groups - nomadic groups like drug addicts, poor single mothers, the homeless, alcoholics. How ready am I to reach out to these 'lepers' in our midst?



Because of Your love, give me life, and I will do Your will.

DAILY OFFERING
Eternal Father, I offer You everything I do this day; my thoughts, words, joys and sufferings. Grant that, vivified by the Holy Spirit and united to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary, my life this day may be of service to You and to others. I also pray that all those preparing for marriage discover in Sacrament the source of Christ's grace for living a fithful and fruitful love. Amen.

PRAYING WITH THE CHURCH
INTENTION
That young people may learn to use modern means of social communication for their personal growth and to better prepare themselves to serve society.
Elaboration

- END -


© Copyright Shalom 2010. All rights reserved.