Leprosy as described in the Bible is a contagious disease that caused people living with it be isolated from the society. Up until now, though leprosy is already curable, the stigma remains.
It was in 2015 when I was enlightened about the illness after being the staff assigned on the partnership between the Girl Scouts of the Philippines and Philippine Leprosy Mission, Inc. It is the discrimination that impacts the life of the leper more than the complication of the disease.
Our First Reading and Gospel for this Sunday show us the clear picture of the suffering a leper has to endure because of his state of uncleanliness. Moved with compassion, Jesus made the leper clean so he may be reconnected with his community.
On February 14, Valentine's Day is Ash Wednesday, and we will officially begin the season of Lent. Let us examine ourselves, our lives, our relationships. What are the circumstances that we tend to discriminate others? When was the last time we are moved with pity to help our fellow human being? In this age of modern connectivity, can we actually say that we become more connected with one another?
Inspired by Jesus' example in today's Gospel, may we empathize with the people suffering from discrimination. Let us embrace and love our neighbors regardless of their illness, status, physical looks, beliefs, or ideologies.
Prayer
Lord Jesus Christ, help us to end any form of discrimination made worse by our selfishness and indifference. May You open our eyes to see the reality, our ears to hear the silent suffering, our hands to welcome those in need, and our hearts to love especially those already forgotten by the society. All these we ask in Your Mighty Name, Amen.
"Moved with pity." In stories of Jesus' healing, most of what we hear is how Jesus can restore people to pristine condition even with the people doing things little in appearance but are actually great displays of faith. Not much attention is given to the feeling that made Jesus deem it necessary to heal. And also this is where we focus on today: "pity."
The "pity" we examine here is not that which is synonymous with "patronization" or "condescension." For the pity of Christian quality is not that which is infested with an "I am better than thou" mentality, but one which understands, communes with, and bears affection for another who is suffering. The closest pity to the Christian character is that we call empathy: the ability to put oneself in another's shoes.
The pity most commendable is that which moves us to positive action. We can see someone suffering and we can look wistfully at them and say: "I pity", but unless and until there is action to better other's experience, pity stays as it is: a feeling...a feeling that is soon to stagnate when left on its own.
The direction pity takes us is another to consider. Towards which action—positive or negative this pity moves us, we should be wary of, for we can think that we are only "looking out for another", but in our haste and disregard for the other's pace and feelings, little do we know, we could be spreading salt on the wounds he or she has long been struggling with.
It is not enough to pity. To pity is static if it ends in itself but bears good if it directs us towards positive action. Further, even if we may be "well-meaning" to another, we must be caring of his or her situation and disposition. We must think about how he or she is feeling, and how fast or slow, how accepting or resistant he or she is about the actions we recommend to him or her out of pity, for to deal with another in disregard can be dehumanizing, undignified, and unchristian. Such disregard can lead to falling outs that can happen even in the mundanity of the dinner's table.
The pity, or should we say empathy we should espouse is that of Jesus, who looks lovingly at His sheep and in His wistfulness at their predicament, is moved to healing. Our healing, while not miraculous, may come even in simple words, in humble but steady and warm company, as long as we have and nurture the love Jesus had for others and set it ever ablaze within ourselves.
Lastly, as we talk about pity, another important point must be made. We commonly extend pity to those who have less, but do we realize that we should be extending the same loving pity towards those who give us so many and so much but go without being thanked? Our Gospel for today is that of a leper being healed, and in another story, as we recall, God healed another ten, but only one came back to offer his thanks. May we ever be grateful for the kindness God extends us. If we only knew how many and much He gave and still continues to give, the number of our days would never be commensurate avenues for thanksgiving. So it is our words, as limited as they are, in which we can thank the Lord, but more so, in our deeds the—kindness we "pay forward" to others.
Prayer
Jesus, as we adopt in our lives the kind of pity You were inspired by, may we be moved to positive action and so better others' lives, not to be content doing nothing with their plight.
May our pity bring healing to others and not damage them through condescension. May we empathize with them and love them so we turn into You and show Your loving face to alleviate them of their suffering.
In the same vein, in Your righteous and loving pity towards us, may Your miraculous healings to us and others develop in us the natural proclivity and ultimately the will to thank You back as did the one leper You healed and went back to You to give his thanks, and to extend to others the same kindness You graced us with.
The Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying: When a person has on the skin of his body a swelling or an eruption or a spot, and it turns into a leprous disease on the skin of his body, he shall be brought to Aaron the priest or to one of his sons the priests. he is leprous, he is unclean. The priest shall pronounce him unclean; the disease is on his head.
The person who has the leprous disease shall wear torn clothes and let the hair of his head be disheveled; and he shall cover his upper lip and cry out, “Unclean, unclean.” He shall remain unclean as long as he has the disease; he is unclean. He shall live alone; his dwelling shall be outside the camp.
Second reading: 1 Corinthians 10: 31-11:1
So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. Give no offense to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God, just as I try to please all men in everything I do, not seeking my own advantage, but that of many, that they may be saved.
Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.
Gospel: Mark 1: 40-45
A leper came to him begging him, and kneeling he said to him, “If you choose, you can make me clean.” Moved with pity, Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, and said to him, “I do choose. Be made clean!” Immediately the leprosy left him, and he was made clean.
After sternly warning him he sent him away at once, saying to him, “See that you say nothing to anyone; but go, show yourself to the priest, and offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.” But he went out and began to proclaim it freely, and to spread the word, so that Jesus could no longer go into a town openly, but stayed out in the country; and people came to him from every quarter.
Reflection by Carlo Alexis Malaluan
Again in this Gospel we find Jesus moved with great compassion. Jesus reveals a new face of God. Leprosy was a living death: the sufferer was isolated from family and community, and had to cry out ‘Unclean, unclean!’ when anyone approached. Leprosy in the Bible covered a range of skin diseases. More importantly, it was considered as making a person unclean. The leper breaches this code by approaching Jesus, and Jesus breaches it by touching the leper. Touching the leper made Jesus ritually unclean also. There are no lengths to which Jesus will not go to help this man. He touches him, speaks to him, and gives him his freedom to be fully human again. The most painful wounds we carry with from the past are more wounds of the spirit than of the body. Of these spiritual wounds that one that causes us most pain is that of a belief that we are insignificant. In this Gospel story we hear in Jesus’ words to the leper, His concern to heal this wound we carry with us from the past. Deeply moved, Jesus put out His hand and touched him.’ Jesus, the concrete manifestation of God’s unfailing love, preached in stories, but also in actions. He healed the sick and freed people from suffering, brokenness, desolation, rejection and even sin. Jesus enters fully into the human mess of our lives, making it truly divine. This compassion of God, the very act of mercy itself, costs great sacrifice. Because of this, Jesus could no longer go into a town openly, but stayed out in the country. Why? Because Jesus had touched the leper. Because of this, according to the law, He himself was now impure. He could no longer enter the city. At times, we would ask ourselves and question the fruits of our good works. We have done good to others but they, in return, have caused us so much pain. But it must not hinder us from doing good. As Jesus received people who came to Him from every quarter, we must continue to receive people in our lives, in our hearts, in our humanity. We must always heed the advice of Saint Paul in his letter to Corinthians, “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ”. If Christ is compassionate, we must also be compassionate. If Christ welcomed everyone, especially the impure and marginalized, we must also accept everyone. There is no limit in loving people.
Prayer
Lord, allow me to follow Your example. Grant me the grace to love people like You – to enter into their impurities, their weakness and suffering. By doing so, may I become an agent of Your healing as I am constantly reminded that I am in need of Your healing. Amen.
So he went down and immersed himself seven times in the Jordan, as Elisha had told him to do. And his flesh became clean once more like the flesh of a little child. Returning to Elisha with his whole escort, he went in and, presenting himself, said, 'Now I know that there is no God anywhere on earth except in Israel. Now, please, accept a present from your servant.'
But Elisha replied, 'As Yahweh lives, whom I serve, I will accept nothing.' Naaman pressed him to accept, but he refused. Then Naaman said, 'Since your answer is "No," allow your servant to be given as much earth as two mules may carry, since your servant will no longer make burnt offerings or sacrifice to any god except Yahweh.
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 98:1, 2-3, 3-4
Second Reading: 2 Timothy 2:8-13
Remember the gospel that I carry, 'Jesus Christ risen from the dead, sprung from the race of David'; it is on account of this that I have to put up with suffering, even to being chained like a criminal. But God's message cannot be chained up. So I persevere for the sake of those who are chosen, so that they, too, may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.
Here is a saying that you can rely on: If we have died with him, then we shall live with him. If we persevere, then we shall reign with him. If we disown him, then he will disown us. If we are faithless, he is faithful still, for he cannot disown his own self.
Gospel: Luke 17:11-19
Now it happened that on the way to Jerusalem he was travelling in the borderlands of Samaria and Galilee. As he entered one of the villages, ten men suffering from a virulent skin-disease came to meet him. They stood some way off and called to him, 'Jesus! Master! Take pity on us.'
When he saw them he said, 'Go and show yourselves to the priests.' Now as they were going away they were cleansed. Finding himself cured, one of them turned back praising God at the top of his voice and threw himself prostrate at the feet of Jesus and thanked him. The man was a Samaritan. This led Jesus to say, 'Were not all ten made clean? The other nine, where are they?
It seems that no one has come back to give praise to God, except this foreigner.' And he said to the man, 'Stand up and go on your way. Your faith has saved you.'
Reflection
By Rosalinda N. Markell
Have we thought of the wondrous power of giving thanks to God? When you open the golden pages of the Bible, you will read God's wonderful words. There, it says, "In everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your request be made unto God." (Philippians 4:6).
Notice that the Bible does not say that we are just to thank God for what He has given us, but with thanksgiving, let our request made unto God. Without doubt, we should thank God in advance for providing us our needs.
As most of us may know, giving praise and saying thank you for the gifts received, big or small, seem to boost the giver's spirit and power. People seem to grow and blossom when they are praised and thanked for. God may feel the same way. We make Him happy, when we give Him praise and offer thanksgiving. When was the last time we thanked God? Thanked those around us? It is unfortunate that the words "Thank you" is no longer often heard at home or elsewhere as though everything done by parents to their children is obligation, as though everything done by cleaners or security guards is just part of their job.
When we give thanks, it makes our own spirit jump for joy too. Look at the Blessed Virgin Mary when she visited Elizabeth. Didn't she burst into her now famous Magnificat? Look at that Samaritan leper who was cured of his disease. Didn't he praise God on the top of his voice and prostrated himself to Jesus? Giving thanks is good for us! And surely, God will be happy to bring life and health and also peace to us in a greater abundance.
Let us be thankful to God for whatever He gives us, but also be gracious, brave, and strong enough to share it with others.
Prayer
Dear loving Father, this is the time when we come to You, not with a wish or plea, but with a song of thanksgiving. Yes, we know how many times we have come to You with questions and fears. But we truly are so thankful that You calm our fears and answer our questions in Your time. Please help us, dear Father, to be thankful for all our blessings, whether big or small. Thank you for the blessings of love, health, protection for our love ones, happy true friends and for a wonderful home. Thank you for the privilege of praying to You, our dear Father. In Jesus' Name, we pray. Amen.
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.”
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 32:1-2, 5, 11
Second Reading : 1 Corinthians 10:31—11:1
Brothers and sisters,
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.
Gospel: Mark 1:40-45
A leper came to Jesus and kneeling down begged him and said, “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 the 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.
Reflection
By Grace B. Madriñan
When you are overwhelmed with so much happiness, you will really find it hard to contain it. You will shout it out to the whole world. And I am just talking about normal happiness. What if it is the Holy Spirit that it is in you? All the more that you will leap for joy, bounce up and down until you spread the contagious fire!
This is how it felt when I attended the Holy Mass in Luneta, one with the people, rich and poor, through dry and wet grounds. Joy overflows as Pope Francis, the Vicar of Christ, entered in our presence. People hang on to every word he said like torched land waiting for a drop of rain. After the event, no heart is left untouched. And every person has a story of hope to tell.
This is why I cannot blame the leper in today’s Gospel if he was unable to contain his joy despite being warned sternly by Jesus not to tell anyone. He may have been overwhelmed by the gift of salvation he received that he wanted to give credit to his Redeemer or he wanted others to experience the same gift he received.
But I believe we must not dwell on the bliss of the moment. The real challenge now is how to use this new found faith and hope to action. We must not stop at just being the bearer of Good News, we must also be the Good News.
Prayer
Father, thank You for the insurmountable blessings which serve as reminders of Your immense love for us. May we use every opportunity to use these gifts to serve others. Amen.
ANABELLE PAYOD-BALLA is married and is blessed with four lovely daughters. Currently the Faith section Editor, Ana is one of the Tanghalang Anluwage’s members since its inception in 1991.
ART B. REYES is a semiconductor engineering professional. He is one of the founding members of Tanghalang Anluwage.
ELIZABETH R. EGUIA is an employee of a software provider company in Malaysia and has dedicated herself in bringing the Gospel to the barangay level.
NICOLA ALBANO-RACHIELE was a cardiac nurse for almost 8 years in Manhattan, NY before moving to Bethlehem, PA where she continues her career at St. Luke's University Health Network Electrophysiology Laboratory.
GRACE B. MADRINAN is an Industrial Engineering graduate of Polytechnic University of the Philippines, and currently works for a semiconductor company in Cavite.
EDGARDO TULABUT is a Logistics supervisor, Financial educator, Health Advocate, Future Feast Builder under the Light of Jesus-Pampanga, Blogger, Christian Music Enthusiast, & a Coffee Freak.
FIDJI RIVERA - SARMIENTO is a special educator, answered her calling to teach beyond their home-front by establishing her own intervention center. An advocate of the inclusion education system & of the handmade revolution.
MAYZELLE ATIENZA worked for 12 years as a product engineer in Intel Technology Philippines. She is currently serving as a full-time volunteer staffer for her Catholic charismatic community.
JEANNE THERESE HILARIO ANDRES was a youth worker of Christ’s Youth in Action and now a married mom of two. She and her husband are members of The Sword of the Spirit.
BENJ SANTIAGO is involved with keeping families together, & helping achieve financial independence. A member of Brotherhood of Christian Businessmen & Professionals, and Magis Deo Community.
FELY SANTIAGO is a Financial Teacher at International Marketing Group, a
Financial Mentor, Wealth Circle & Truly Rich Club, Bo Sanchez, Inc, and Head, Financial Mentoring Ministry, The Feast Bay Area.
ROSALINDA MARKELL was a Regent of the Daughters of Mary Immaculate of St. Joseph Church,Gagalangin, Tondo. Now residing in the US, was blessed with 5 children & now have 13 grandchildren, & 3 great-grand-children.
PATTY DE LA ROSA-PAAT is the writer for the web's "Ano Yun?" sub-section. She also serves as a catechist in her parish in Laguna, Philippines.
PAM MANZANO is Bachelor of Arts Major in Psychology graduate. She is the only daughter of TA senior member, the late Eliza Manzano and has a son named Piel.
GRACE JAMANDRI - FLORES is a public high school teacher in social studies. She was a parish youth leader and catechist in her younger years.
RENATO C. VIBIESCA
is teaching Literature & Creative Writing at the PUP, Jose Rizal University & St. Paul University in Quezon City. He's also contributing stories for Gospel Komiks and other publications.
THERESA BALLO is a graduate of BS Psychology in UST. She is currently working as a formation staff at the Campus Ministry and Service Office of Xavier School Nuvali.
CRIS BALLA manages a mobile apps and games design and development company. He also writes programs and designs graphics elements. He is the husband of Ana, Faith Section Editor.
MARK RODNEY P. VERTIDO is a teacher who now teaches at Holy Spirit Academy Manila. He is deeply involved in their Diocesan Youth Commission as a volunteer and other youth endeavors.
CARLO ALEXIS MALALUAN is a seminarian for the Diocese of Imus, Cavite. He have earned a degree in Bachelor of Science in Psychology before entering the Seminary. He is one of the facilitators of Online Usapang Bokasyon, an online vocation talk show of the Ministri sa Bokasyon of the Diocese of Imus. During his free time, he would spend reading books and illustrating.
MA. ROSALINA FLORES is a Technical Assistant at the Program Division of the Girl Scouts of the Philippines National Headquarters. She's also a member of the Manila Cathedral's Ministry of Lectors and Commentators.
JESSSA JANELLE PADILLA is a government employee. She is also a member of the Manila Cathedral - Basilica's Ministry of Lectors and Commentators.
JOSE PAULO M. GONZALES is a seminarian. He loves biking, swimming, and checking out new places and awesome sceneries. A lifelong learner and curious navigator, he believes there’s still a lot of wonder in life to be found.
