The Gospel According to Mark – 2018.02.11
Healer and Teacher
The ministry of Jesus was that of a healer.
He healed the body of disease, he freed the
minds and the hearts of his followers.
His intention was not to subvert the existing
order, or to encourage people to abandon the temple. He did not aim to
overthrow the priesthood, or to undermine the law.
Jesus did not seek fame for himself, or to be
rewarded for the fruit of his ministry and service.
Nevertheless people sought him out, and as a
consequence he was forced to teach and perform his ministry beyond the margins
of society. He remained an outsider.
The Leprosy Left the Man at Once, and he Was
Cured
A leper came to Jesus and pleaded on his
knees: ‘If you want to’ he said ‘you can cure me.’ Feeling sorry for him, Jesus
stretched out his hand and touched him. ‘Of course I want to!’ he said. ‘Be
cured!’ And the leprosy left him at once and he was cured. Jesus immediately
sent him away and sternly ordered him, ‘Mind you say nothing to anyone, but go
and show yourself to the priest, and make the offering for your healing
prescribed by Moses as evidence of your recovery.’ The man went away, but then
started talking about it freely and telling the story everywhere, so that Jesus
could no longer go openly into any town, but had to stay outside in places
where nobody lived. Even so, people from all around would come to him.
6th Sunday of Ordinary Time
