Skip to main content

6th Sunday of Ordinary Time

This Sunday marks the end of our brief winter’s journey through Ordinary Time, and our readings serve as an appropriate transition to the Lenten season by addressing the issue of how we treat those who are sick and in need.  While we have an obligation to protect the greater population by separating out those who are sick, we sometimes forget that we also have an obligation to care for those in need.  Our readings this week give us the opportunity to examine these issues.


Leviticus 13:1-2, 44-46
Psalm 32:1-2, 5, 11
1 Corinthians 10:31-11:1
Mark 1:40-45

Our first reading comes from the Book of Leviticus.  This second book of Moses takes its name from the priestly tribe of the Levites, for whom this book is a handbook for serving the Hebrew people.  Since this book is often referred to as “priestly law,” it is easy for us confuse this book as dealing with strictly religious matters.  On the contrary, the ancient Hebrews didn’t have any concept of “religious law” separate from “secular law.”  Levite priests not only dealt with matters of spirituality and worship, but they dealt with all issues of daily life, from preparing food, to business conduct, to healthcare and personal hygiene. 

This Sunday’s passage from Leviticus describes how those who are sick should be dealt with in the community.  In this case, a person with skin sores must be checked by the priest, and if determined to be leprosy, that person must make that known to the community (rending of garments, covering their face) and live apart from the community (making his abode outside the camp).  This wasn’t done to humiliate the individual, but rather to protect the remainder of the population.  It is a particularly interesting reading in light of our recent outbreak of the flu which has been devastating this year.

Though our first reading would seem to be harsh for the individual who is sick, our Psalm response is meant to be a “prescription” by reminding us that in times of trouble, we need to turn to the Lord.

Our second reading continues our study of Paul’s 1st letter to the Corinthians.  In this week’s short passage, Paul’s message is simple… don’t offend anyone, and live as imitators of Christ.  It is by living this way, Paul tells us, that we give glory to God.

Our Gospel from Mark picks up where we left off last week and brings Chapter 4 to a close.  Last week we saw Jesus preaching and healing a number of people, and realizing that he needed to head out to other towns and do the same.  This week we see Jesus meeting someone with leprosy, whom he cures.  Then, in keeping with Mosaic Law, instructs the person to go to the priest so that he can be certified as “clean” and rejoin the community.  Here we also see the beginning of what will be a running theme in Mark’s gospel:  Although Jesus gives the cured leper a warning not to tell anyone, the word gets out, bringing even larger crowds.  At this Jesus tries to seek refuge, yet the people still find him.

Final Thoughts:
While the Mosaic Law had every good intention for keeping the greater population free from disease, it had some unfortunate side effects.  The application of that law, as practiced over the centuries, focused too much on separating the sick from the rest of the population while not focusing enough on the care of those who were sick.  Over time this created a marginalized underclass who were ostracized from the community and left to fend for themselves.  By curing these people, Jesus not only demonstrated his power from God, but reminds us that we must reach out to those in need.  Like Paul reminds us in our second reading, we need to imitate Christ, and show God’s love to those most in need.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

25th Sunday of Ordinary Time - Cycle A

For anyone who is a parent, or anyone who’s had to mediate a dispute among children, you likely have confronted the phrase “But that’s not fair!”  How many times in your life have you uttered that phrase?  Even as adults we have a tendency to equate “justice” with “fairness.”  But here’s the thing – what is “just” may not always be “fair,” and what is “fair” to one person may not always be “fair” to the other.  Our readings this week deal with just that problem, the difference between what we think is fair and what God thinks is both fair and just. The Word for the 25th Sunday of Ordinary Time Isaiah 55:6-9 Psalm 145:2-3, 8-9, 17-18 Philippians 1:20c-24, 27a Matthew 20-1-16a We open with a reading from the book of the prophet Isaiah, in this case from the closing chapter of Deutero or “second” Isaiah.  This comes from a point in Israelite history where the people have been released from their Exile in Babylon.  The Lord has shown them great mercy and forgiveness by freeing them from th

3rd Sunday of Ordinary Time - Cycle B

Our readings this week focus on a core theme that runs through Jesus’ ministry – repentance.  There is no sin so grave that cannot be forgiven with true contrition and a return to God.  This was the message that John the Baptist proclaimed, and the message Jesus continued to proclaim as he took up his own ministry.  This theme not only runs through the gospels but is one of the major themes that binds the entire Bible into a cohesive volume.   The Word for the 3rd Sunday of Ordinary Time Jonah 3:1-5, 10 Psalm 25:4-5, 6-7, 8-9 1 Corinthians 7:29-31 Mark 1:14-20 Our first reading comes from the book of Jonah.  The story of Jonah is well known in both Jewish and Christian circles, yet for all its popularity, we only hear it in the Sunday Liturgy this once.  For this reason, many Catholics only have a passing familiarity with Jonah’s story.  They know his name and that he was swallowed by a large fish (or whale), but that’s about it.  In our passage this week, God asks Jonah to go through

33rd Sunday of Ordinary Time - Cycle A

God the Father has endowed us with many gifts.  Not only does scripture recommend that we give thanks for these gifts (as in our readings from Proverbs and Psalms), but it recommends that these gifts must be put to use for the greater good and the love of God. The Word for the 33rd Sunday of Ordinary Time Proverbs 31:10-13, 19-20, 30-31 Psalm 128:1-2, 3, 4-5 1 Thessalonians 5:1-6 Matthew 25:14-30 or 25:14-15, 19-21 We open with a reading from the book of Proverbs.  This book falls within the category of “wisdom literature” in the Bible.  Like its other wisdom book counterparts, it is a collection of wise sayings used as a type of “catechism” to teach right living in the eyes of God.  Proverbs is thought to originate during the period of the Israelite monarchy but doesn’t reach its final form until the post-exilic period.  Our passage for this coming Sunday gives us the example of the value of a “worthy wife,” and how we should honor that value.  “Wisdom” in this period is considered mo