Sing or say: Responsorial Psalm: 32:1-2, 5, 11
First reading: Reading II: 1 Corinthians 10:31-11:1
From the Gospel: Gospel: Mark 1:40-45
First - for the children.
Now for us big kids:
This Sunday is the Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time.
Get to Know the Readings.
from The Many Faces of AIDS: A Gospel Response U.S. Bishops, 1987
"Leprosy was a terrible disease in biblical times. Highly contagious, it was fatal, since there was no cure for it. The law could do nothing other than exclude lepers from participation in the life of the community.
There was more to it than that. The responsorial psalm 32 is a reminder that in biblical times people often regarded sin as the cause of disease. Lepers were therefore sinners, and the community excluded them from its worship. In a theocracy such as Israel, exclusion from the temple was a fate worse than death.
Jesus enters the scene as the healer of lepers. Those for whom the law offers no hope find in Jesus their savior, their key to re-entry into the human community.
We have our own ‘lepers’ today. They are the wretched people of the world’s slums, the one’s dying of AIDS, the ones sitting on death row. The law of society has nothing of hope to offer them. Their only hope is in the great prophet (who) has appeared among us, and in those followers of Jesus like Paul, seeking not my own advantage, but that of the many.
The mystery of the human condition is such that, in one way or another, all will face pain, reversal, and, ultimately, the mystery of death itself. Seen through the eyes of faith, however, this mystery is not closed in upon itself.
Through sharing in the cross of Christ, human suffering and pain have a redemptive meaning and goal. They have the potential of opening a person to new life. They also present an opportunity and a challenge to all, calling us to respond to suffering just as Jesus did—with love and care.”
More reflections and commentary for this Sunday can be found at The Center for Liturgy Sunday.
3 comments:
We studied this gospel reading this morning in my Familia group, and I loved how Jesus touched the leper to heal him . . . he could have just spoken a word, but he reached out and touched someone who was considered untouchable.
Aside from being healed physically, I am sure that the leper was healed inside as well...it probably had been a long time since he had human contact, and Jesus made him feel loved.
It sure is a great reading chock full of examples of how to live, human nature, symbolism and love! I am working on a second commentary about one aspect of the reading that has bothered me for years. I finally found an answer to my question!
On another subject, Bia. I found a cassette recording of "my Mary" a woman who was a surrogate grandmother to me. Her Italian accent is one of the best sounds of my memories.
Any idea how to get a recording from a cassette digitized so it can be downloaded?
I would love for you to hear her. That Goldilocks story describes exactly how she pronounced many words!!
oh, there must be a way...I'll ask around.
I remember you mentioning your Mary before and I would love to hear her voice! It is so wonderful that you have an actual recording...I wish I had one for my Nonna.
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