Catechism Links[1]
CCC 1474: Living in Christ unites all believers in him
CCC 1939-1942: Human solidarity
CCC 2288-2291: Respect for health
Readings for the Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time [2]
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible[3]
Readings and Commentary: [4]
Reading 1: Leviticus 13:1-2, 44-46
The Lord said to Moses and Aaron,
"If someone has on his skin a scab or pustule or blotch
which appears to be the sore of leprosy,
he shall be brought to Aaron, the priest,
or to one of the priests among his descendants.
If the man is leprous and unclean,
the priest shall declare him unclean
by reason of the sore on his head.
"The one who bears the sore of leprosy
shall keep his garments rent and his head bare,
and shall muffle his beard;
he shall cry out, 'Unclean, unclean!'
As long as the sore is on him he shall declare himself unclean,
since he is in fact unclean.
He shall dwell apart, making his abode outside the camp."
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Commentary on Lv 13:1-2, 44-46
This section of Leviticus, part of the “sanitary laws,” deals with various skin blemishes. Should a person develop a lesion of the sort described, the person was declared “unclean,” in some cases ritually unclean, meaning they could not participate in communal worship. In other cases it disqualified the affected person from association with the community as a whole. The Hebrew term translated as leprosy does not refer to Hansen’s disease which we call leprosy. The rabbinical interpretation was any lesion or sore on the skin.
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Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 32:1-2, 5, 11
R. (7) I turn to you, Lord, in time of trouble, and you fill me with the joy of salvation.
CCC 1939-1942: Human solidarity
CCC 2288-2291: Respect for health
“The Leper” by Alexandre Bida, c. 1880 |
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible[3]
Readings and Commentary: [4]
Reading 1: Leviticus 13:1-2, 44-46
The Lord said to Moses and Aaron,
"If someone has on his skin a scab or pustule or blotch
which appears to be the sore of leprosy,
he shall be brought to Aaron, the priest,
or to one of the priests among his descendants.
If the man is leprous and unclean,
the priest shall declare him unclean
by reason of the sore on his head.
"The one who bears the sore of leprosy
shall keep his garments rent and his head bare,
and shall muffle his beard;
he shall cry out, 'Unclean, unclean!'
As long as the sore is on him he shall declare himself unclean,
since he is in fact unclean.
He shall dwell apart, making his abode outside the camp."
-------------------------------------------
Commentary on Lv 13:1-2, 44-46
This section of Leviticus, part of the “sanitary laws,” deals with various skin blemishes. Should a person develop a lesion of the sort described, the person was declared “unclean,” in some cases ritually unclean, meaning they could not participate in communal worship. In other cases it disqualified the affected person from association with the community as a whole. The Hebrew term translated as leprosy does not refer to Hansen’s disease which we call leprosy. The rabbinical interpretation was any lesion or sore on the skin.
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Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 32:1-2, 5, 11
R. (7) I turn to you, Lord, in time of trouble, and you fill me with the joy of salvation.
Blessed is he whose fault is taken away,
whose sin is covered.
Blessed the man to whom the LORD imputes not guilt,
in whose spirit there is no guile.
R. I turn to you, Lord, in time of trouble, and you fill me with the joy of salvation.
Then I acknowledged my sin to you,
my guilt I covered not.
I said, "I confess my faults to the LORD,"
and you took away the guilt of my sin.
R. I turn to you, Lord, in time of trouble, and you fill me with the joy of salvation.
Be glad in the LORD and rejoice, you just;
exult, all you upright of heart.
R. I turn to you, Lord, in time of trouble, and you fill me with the joy of salvation.
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Commentary on Ps 32:1-2, 5, 11
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Reading II: 1 Corinthians 10:31-11:1
Whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do,
do everything for the glory of God.
Avoid giving offense, whether to the Jews or Greeks or
the church of God,
just as I try to please everyone in every way,
not seeking my own benefit but that of the many,
that they may be saved.
Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.
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Commentary on 1 Cor 10:31-11:1
Gospel: Mark 1:40-45
"If you wish, you can make me clean."
Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand,
touched him, and said to him,
"I do will it. Be made clean."
The leprosy left him immediately, and he was made clean.
Then, warning him sternly, he dismissed him at once.
He said to him, "See that you tell no one anything,
but go, show yourself to the priest
and offer for your cleansing what Moses prescribed;
that will be proof for them."
The man went away and began to publicize the whole matter.
He spread the report abroad
so that it was impossible for Jesus to enter a town openly.
He remained outside in deserted places,
and people kept coming to him from everywhere.
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Commentary on Mk 1:40-45
Jesus asks the leper not to tell anyone how this was accomplished, but to show the Hebrew priest he was clean and be allowed to rejoin the community. The leper did not remain silent about what had happened, so the Lord is mobbed by those seeking God’s favor. Unlike the account in St. Luke, Jesus does not embrace the notoriety but withdraws to deserted places. Nonetheless, people seek him out, "coming to him from everywhere.”
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Reflection:
[1] Catechism links are taken from the Homiletic Directory, published by the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, 29 June 2014.
[2] The pictured today is “The Leper” by Alexandre Bida, c. 1880.
[3] S.S. Commemoratio
[4] The readings are taken from the New American Bible, with the exception of the psalm and its response which were developed by the International Committee for English in Liturgy (ICEL). This republication is not authorized by USCCB and is for private use only.
[2] The pictured today is “The Leper” by Alexandre Bida, c. 1880.
[3] S.S. Commemoratio
[4] The readings are taken from the New American Bible, with the exception of the psalm and its response which were developed by the International Committee for English in Liturgy (ICEL). This republication is not authorized by USCCB and is for private use only.
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