12 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
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Sometimes Mark's rather sparse and truncated way of writing creates problems. So we are puzzled why Jesus should speak "sternly" to a poor man whom he has cured of leprosy. "The leprosy left him then and there, and he was cured." Perhaps this sentence means that two things occurred: an exorcism and a healing. Jesus was speaking sternly to the devil and not to the healed man. As the devil's malice was removed from the man, he was healed.

For Jesus' contemporaries, illness was associated with the devil, for illness is an evil and the devil is the source of all evil. Jesus sometimes associated sin and illness, telling people whom he had healed "Go now and sin no more." At the same time, he was careful to disassociate illness and sin, showing there is no automatic connection between them: those who suffer are frequently innocent of any sin that could have caused the illness. Indeed, those who are afflicted by illness are often the victims of sinfulness on the part of others.

The words "The leprosy left him" may be an indication that the "evil spirit" left the man: he was exorcized or set free from this evil, and so was cured of his illness.



Lord, grant us health of mind and body so that we may always 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 the victims of natural disasters may receive the spiritual and material comfort they need to rebuild their lives.
Elaboration

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