Readings: Leviticus 13:1-2, 44-46; Psalm 32; 1 Corinthians 10:31-11:1; Mark 1:40-45.
Grace and peace to you dear family of God’s people.
In the Gospel of today, we have the wonderful account of the cure of a leper. This story is in the Bible to help to build our faith.
There are many powerful lessons for us in the Gospel. For instance, we could examine:
A. The faith of the leper who believed in Jesus’ power to cure an incurable disease.
B. We could reflect on the prayer of the leper, which suggests his resignation to God’s will, “If you want to.”
C. We may look at the personality of Jesus. He felt sorry instead of repulsion for a leper and He touched him, He touched the untouchable.
The first reading tells us about the pathetic condition a leper is subjected to; at a time when most people stoned lepers Jesus touched one with love.
D. We may look at the disobedience of the leper out of unbridled excitement. Obedience is a great virtue and it perfects faith.
Today, however, let us examine the instruction of Jesus to the leper. Jesus sent him away and warned him not to say anything to anyone.
The cure of this leper is an action that could tip the scales in favour of Jesus. It is an action that could announce Jesus to the world and change public opinion about Him and yet He ordered this man not to broadcast it. He even subjected His actions to the scrutiny of the law and the confirmation of the priests.
Jesus does nothing for His own glory or advantage but to the glory and honour of God. His concern was not to impress people or sway public opinion in His favour. There is no iota of vainglory in Jesus.
This is the message of St Paul to us in the second reading. Whatever we do, it must be done for the glory of God, we must never be anxious for our own advantage but the glory of God and the advantage of others. Our concern must not be to seek praises or admiration, to show off or scout for commendation.
To do this, we need to pray for Christ-like selflessness and the spirit of genuine humility, this kind of humility is the work of the Holy Spirit in a soul. We pray that the Spirit of God will break every edifice of pride, ambition and self-seeking proclivities in us and keep us truly humble and selfless following the example of Jesus.
Sermon preached by Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Baraka-Gukena Okami on February 14, 2021