A MIRACLE DEEPER THAN THE CURE.

SIXTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME. YEAR B.
February 15, 2009.
(First reading: Leviticus 13:1-2, 44-46) (Psalm 32:1-2, 5, 11)
(Second reading: 1 Corinthians 10:33-11:1) (Gospel: Mark 1:40-45)


A MIRACLE DEEPER
THAN THE CURE.

Jesus Christ cures a leper.
The leper asks: "If you wish, you can make me clean" (Mark 1:40). Now, Jesus could not refuse to cure the leper, for he has come to take upon himself the afflictions of a suffering humanity so that humanity may be made clean.

The leprosy that eats away the flesh of humanity is that which takes the form of war, injustice and exploitation of man by man. This leprosy disfigures the face of humankind. It is an illness inflicted by a few, painful to most and degrading to all.

The deeper miracle consists in Jesus' taking upon himself the suffering of the leper. Let us explain.
Upon the miraculous cure, Jesus said to the who had been cured: "See that you tell no one anything" (Mark 1:44).

The cured man's failure to obey this command "made it impossible for Jesus to enter a town openly. He remained outside in deserted places" (Mark 1:45). In a way, Jesus had to suffer the destiny of the leper who, in accordance with the Law, was mandated "to dwell apart, making his abode outside the camp" (Leviticus 13:46). Jesus was forced to live like a leper.

The healed leper failed to understand that Jesus needed his cooperation in order to go about curing the world from all sorts of illnesses, individual and societal illnesses.

Those who fail to understand that Jesus has come to heal a sick world, prevent him "from entering a town openly", they force Jesus "to retreat to deserted places", they stand in the way of a truly peaceful, just and healthy human society, they are the "lepers" who refuse to cooperate with Jesus in restoring equality and mutual respect, justice and peace for all human beings.

An incurable "leper" is anyone who fails to relate to others with compassion, justice, peace and equality. By doing so, the incurable leper condemns himself "to dwell apart, making his abode outside the camp", outside the camp of a peaceful and just human society.

The deeper effect of this miraculous cure will be fully realized when human beings relate to one another "by seeking not [their] own advantage, but that of the many that they may be saved" (1 Cor. 11:1).