Sunday Gospel Comment
Alberic Jacovone OSB
YEAR B SIXTH SUNDAY OF THE YEAR - 16.2.03 Lev 13,1-2,44-46; 1 Cor 10,31-11,1; Mk 1,40-45 Authority & Indignation Vibes of Authority. The cure of a leper closes Chapter One of Mark’s Gospel. There are only 45 verses, and yet it’s occupied the Liturgy of 6 Sundays -Year B. Typical of Mark: his style is unique: abrupt, telescopic, pictorial & disconnected, yet it forcefully brings the reader into the scene. There is urgency & impatience from Jesus - astonishment & admiration from the crowds, suspicion & opposition from the Pharisees. What stands out is the authority of Jesus, Son of God. Today let’s enjoy Chapter One in its original Greek text -abrupt and disjointed as it is. Remember, the parts written in present tense are meant to be imitated in your life now. First, the title: ‘Beginning the Good Message (eu-angelion) of Jesus - Christ - Son of God’. Then the Prologue follows, with a fulfilled Prophecy: ‘As foretold by Isaiah: a Messenger -his name was John- appeared in the desert, shouting: prepare the way of the Lord’ Then -abruptly- enters Jesus: ‘In those days Jesus of Nazareth came & was baptized - immediately He saw the heavens open & the Spirit... a voice said: You are my Son - And immediately the Spirit drives him in the desert to be tempted for 40 days..’. This is the beginning: now notice how extraordinarily abrupt is the unfolding of the whole Chapter. First Jesus preaches: ‘Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the Good Message (eu-angelion) saying Repent & Believe - Then Jesus chooses his disciples: ‘As Jesus passes along the Lake of Galilee , he saw..& said Follow me.. and immediately they left and followed’. From now on, his disciples will always be with Jesus till his death: ‘They enter into Capernaum and immediately on the Sabbaths he entered the Synagogue and was teaching them with authority - immediately there was in the Synagogue a possessed person who shouted at Jesus... And Jesus rebuked him and the evil spirit... came out of him - and the people were all amazed with one another: He teaches with authority and commands even evil spirits who obey him’. Now follows the scene of Jesus curing many people: ‘And immediately they entered the house of Peter and his mother in law was sick and they told Him. Jesus came, took her by the hand and lifted her up and she was healed - then at Sunset after the Sabbath they brought him all who were sick and he cured many - In the morning while it was still dark he got up and went to a desert place and prayed there... Vibes of Indignation: Now comes today’s scene, the most powerful of Mark’s Gospel. And He went through the whole Galilee preaching the Message in their synagogues, acting & casting out demons; - a leper comes & begs & kneels & says to him: if you choose, you can make me clean. - Moved with indignation (by such a dreadful spectacle of human degradation), Jesus, stretched out his hand & touched him (By touching a rotted, deformed leper, Jesus chose to brake the Torah and become himself unclean. He did it, to be in solidarity and to show indignation against human neglect towards all outcasts like him) and says to him: I do choose, be made clean. - Immediately the leprosy left him... Today’s scene is packed with profound emotions. Here Jesus is indeed Son of God, speaking with so much authority and indignation, Mark wants us to be responsible for the inhumanity of us humans towards each other, for any injustice, brutalization and neglect of outcasts. The spirit of Jesus’ beatitudes forces every Christian to fight for the rights of the outcast. All we have to do is to substitute the word A.I.D.S for leprosy, and the story becomes contemporary, & the indignation of Jesus resonates in our society. ______________________________________ |
