Sunday Gospel Reflection by Bishop Parkes: Last week we read the story of Jesus healing a woman with a fever. In this weekend’s Gospel, we find Jesus encountering a man with leprosy who our Lord heals of his affliction. The church and community saw leprosy as both a spiritual and physical disease. It was considered to be a punishment from God.
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Read the Gospel reflection by Bishop Parkes below or click here to listen to it.
The healing we all desire
“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.’” – Mark 1:40-41
Last week we read the story of Jesus healing a woman with a fever. In this weekend’s Gospel, we find Jesus encountering a man with leprosy who our Lord heals of his affliction. The church and community saw leprosy as both a spiritual and physical disease. It was considered to be a punishment from God.
According to the law at the time, lepers were banned from the community. In order to be reunited, they had to prove to the local priest that they were healed. In this case, the leper knows the power of Jesus to heal if He wills it. The leper says to Jesus, “If you wish, you can make me clean.” In essence, he believes Jesus has the same healing power as God. Jesus had pity and cleansed him of his affliction. Keep in mind that this was also a spiritual cleansing, so that he can be healed in the eyes of God. Jesus orders him to go to the local priest and offer what Moses prescribed according to the Levitical law—in essence, to do penance.
This healing is the same healing we all desire, a healing from the scourge of sin. Like leprosy, sin could not be cured except by a divine intervention. We utilize the sacrament of reconciliation to relieve us and be healed of our spiritual afflictions which separate us from God and others.
Have the courage to recognize your own afflictions and, like the leper, ask the Great Physician, our Lord, to bring healing to your heart, your soul and your mind. Remember, those that asked for healing and had faith received it. Making a good confession is a great way to start.
La curación que todos deseamos
Se le acercó a Jesús un leproso para suplicarle de rodillas: “Si tú quieres, puedes curarme”. Jesús se compadeció de él, y extendiendo la mano, lo tocó y le dijo: “¡Sí quiero: ¡Sana!” – Marcos 1:40-41
La semana pasada leímos la historia de Jesús, que curó a una mujer con fiebre. En el Evangelio de este fin de semana encontramos a Jesús con un leproso a quien el Señor cura de su enfermedad. La Iglesia y la comunidad veían la lepra como una enfermedad tanto espiritual como física. Se consideraba un castigo de Dios.
Según la ley de la época los leprosos eran expulsados de la comunidad. Para poder regresar tenían que demostrarle al sacerdote local que estaban curados. En este caso el leproso sabe que, si Jesús lo desea, tiene el poder de curarlo. El leproso le dice a Jesús: "Si tú quieres, puedes curarme". En esencia, el leproso cree que Jesús tiene el mismo poder de curación que Dios. Jesús se apiadó y el hombre quedó limpio. Tengamos en cuenta que ésta fue también una limpieza espiritual a fin de quedar curado a los ojos de Dios. Jesús le ordena que vaya al sacerdote local y ofrezca lo que Moisés prescribía según la ley levítica; que, en esencia, era hacer penitencia.
Esta curación es la misma que todos deseamos: quedar curados de la lacra del pecado. Al igual que la lepra, el pecado no puede ser curado sino por intervención divina. Utilizamos el sacramento de la reconciliación para aliviarnos y curarnos de nuestras aflicciones espirituales, que nos separan de Dios y de los demás.
Ten la valentía de reconocer tus propias aflicciones y, como el leproso, pide al Gran Médico, nuestro Señor, que cure tu corazón, tu alma y tu mente. Recuerda que los que pidieron la curación y tuvieron fe la recibieron. Hacer una buena confesión es una buena manera de comenzar.
Reflection by:
Most Reverend Gregory L. Parkes is the fifth Bishop of St. Petersburg. Prior to his appointment to the Diocese of St. Petersburg, Bishop Parkes served as the fifth Bishop of the Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee from 2012-2016. He was ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of Orlando on June 26, 1999. Before answering the call to the priesthood, Bishop Parkes worked for several years in Tampa’s banking industry.
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