Sunday 11 February

SIXTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME

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

To touch and cure

The fear that leprosy was contagious meant that lepers were banished to live at the periphery of society; rendered unclean, they became untouchable and, being forced from sight, they became people often forgotten, taunted and shunned.

In touching the leper, Jesus broke first the bonds of isolation and, by that touch, also cured the disease. Jesus reveals that God touches first and, in the touching, makes us whole.

For those who stake their lives on the Gospel, this is something they are called to imitate: “to be helpful to everyone…so that they may be saved.”

mm