Thursday of the First Week of Ordinary Time
In today’s first reading, the author of the letter to the Hebrews issues a warning against faithlessness. Shortly after the Israelites left Egypt, where they were enslaved, and when they arrived near the promised land, God invited them to take possession of it. Several men went out to see the new land and discovered it was very fertile. However, they were also fearful of the powerful Canaanites who inhabited the land. They were worried that they would have to engage in battle, so some of the scouts spread false rumors about the promised land. The people did not obey God’s command and refused to take possession of the land. As a consequence of their disobedience and lack of faith, they wandered in the wilderness for forty years.
In contrast, today’s gospel offers a message of faithfulness. We find Jesus moved with pity after encountering a leper in the street. Leprosy was a living a death sentence. The afflicted person was isolated from family and members of the community. Because they were highly contagious, lepers had to shout “Unclean!” wherever they went. Not only did Jesus approach the leper but he touched him, spoke to him, and gave him his freedom to be fully human again. The leper did not demand Jesus to heal him, and he had faith that he could. “If you wish, you can make me clean.” Jesus then told him not to tell anyone but the chief priest. The leper, whose faith was strong yet imperfect, instead chose to tell everyone in his path. Jesus probably knew this would happen, yet offers his compassion, healing, and grace anyway.
As we meditate on these readings, who do we relate more to? The Israelites whose weakness and sin caused them to turn away from God’s command, or the leper who was open to the surprising and miraculous ways God was at work. God, who reveals himself to us through his son Jesus, invites us to be witnesses to the truth of His love, goodness and mercy. In the words of the psalmist, “If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.” As we come to God in prayer, let us examine the ways we, too, have let our sins harden our hearts. Today we can pray for the grace to be like the leper and have a faithful heart. For the times we have failed to live out our Christian faith, let us seek God in reconciliation, for he will always be compassionate and forgiving.
-Jessica Gabrielli