When you miss Mass is there pain in your heart? If you were unable to attend Mass for months or even years would you stop at nothing to attend once more? The Catechism says that the Mass, the Eucharist is, “The source and summit of the Christian life.” (CCC 1324) Yet so many take it for granted: assume it will always be there. So many don’t bat an eye at missing Mass. No more! It is time for us to stop taking mass for granted: squeezing Mass into our busy lives. Instead, we must structure our lives to revolve around the Mass. Nothing we will do is more important.
Jesus Cleanses a Leper
And a leper came to him beseeching him, and kneeling said to him, “If you will, you can make me clean.” Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand and touched him, and said to him, “I will; be clean.” And immediately the leprosy left him, and he was made clean. And he sternly charged him, and sent him away at once, and said to him, “See that you say nothing to any one; but go, show yourself to the priest, and offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded, for a proof to the people.” But he went out and began to talk freely about it, and to spread the news, so that Jesus could no longer openly enter a town, but was out in the country; and people came to him from every quarter. Mark 1 : 40-45
Scriptural Analysis – Introduction
Leprosy was a hideous and terrifying disease in the time of Jesus. Leprosy was a blanket term used to cover a wide variety of skin conditions including actual true leprosy. At the time of Jesus, there was no cure for leprosy and thus those afflicted with it would almost certainly die. Additionally, because it was contagious and there was no cure, those afflicted with it were required by law to isolate themselves from the rest of society:
The leper who has the disease shall wear torn clothes and let the hair of his head hang loose, and he shall cover his upper lip and cry, ‘Unclean, unclean.’ He shall remain unclean as long as he has the disease; he is unclean; he shall dwell alone in a habitation outside the camp. Leviticus 13:45-46
Lastly, the leper was considered unclean and thus barred from entering the temple, the holy dwelling place of God. They could not participate in the liturgy of Israel. The law could not help the leper but instead only work to ensure the safety and health of the community by limiting the spread of the disease.
Scriptural Analysis – Jesus Encounters The Leper
In approaching Jesus, the leper was making a bold move. First, he was in violation of the law. Second, he is risking scorn and ridicule: people would usually act in horror and revulsion at the sight of a leper. Yet, he still approaches Jesus. This in and of itself is a powerful witness to his faith
He drops to his knees, a sign of both submission and reverence, “Shall all the proud of the earth bow down.” (Psalm 22:29) The leper submits to the will of God in his plea, “if you will.” This also shows confidence in the power of Jesus. Note that he does not ask to be healed but to be made clean. As mentioned earlier, as an unclean individual, he can’t participate in the workshop of God’s people. Therefore, what he is truly asking for is to rejoin in the worship of Israel.
Mark tells us that Jesus was “Moved with pity.” This phrase denotes a strong emotional reaction by Jesus at the sight of the man. Note that Jesus touched the man. Physical contact between a leper and a healthy individual would have been unheard of and dangerous because of the risk of transmutations. It would have also left the person who touched them unclean: locked out of worship. However, Jesus is not defiled by the leper. Instead, the leper is made instantly clean by the touch and words of Jesus.
The phrase “sternly charged him” could be taken to mean that Jesus cast out a demon from the man, presumably one that caused the man’s leprosy. Then Jesus issues what seems like a strange command, “say nothing to any one.” Why would Jesus not want this miracle publicized since he is actively traveling around himself proclaiming the kingdom? Scholars call this the messianic secret. Jesus concealed his mighty works during the time of his ministry.
Scriptural Analysis – Jesus Respects The Law
Jesus tells the man to present himself to the priests and offer the sacrifice prescribed for the cleansing of leprosy. This is a complex process carried out over several days involving multiple sacrifices and rituals (see Leviticus chapter 14 for complete details). This command by Jesus shows the respect that Jesus has for the law of Moses. A priest could pronounce the mean clean allowing him to reenter society and, more importantly, resume worship at the temple.
The man was unable to comply with Jesus’s desire for this healing to be kept secret and instead went around and talked about it, “he went out and began to talk freely about it.” The result is Jesus can no longer freely enter towns. It is as if Jesus took on the leper’s previous status as an outcast. Jesus must remain in deserted places to avoid being mobbed by the people seeking miracles.
Daily Application
In the story of the healing of the leper it is critical to notice what the leper asks Jesus, “If you will, you can make me clean.” It is easy to skip over that and focus instead on the fact that Jesus healed the man as well as the ensuing conversation about keeping this healing a secret. However, the heart of this exchange lies in the ask of the man, to be made clean. In other words, the worst suffering for this man was not the ravage of his leprosy, which was severe. The worst suffering for this man was his inability to participate in the temple worship, to offer God proper praise and worship.
This man was willing to break the law and risk scorn and ridicule to approach Jesus believing that Jesus could cleanse him and he could once again enter the temple. What are we willing to risk to ensure that we can worship God and make it to Mass? The Catechism of the Catholic Church tells us that, “Participation in the communal celebration of the Sunday Eucharist is a testimony of belonging and of being faithful to Christ and to his Church.” (CCC 2182)
Furthermore, “On Sundays and other holy days of obligation the faithful are bound to participate in the Mass.” (CCC 2180) We are obligated to attend Mass on Sundays and other holy days of obligation. That does not mean we only have to go when we feel like it or it is convenient. It does not mean it is fine to skip Mass because my child has a soccer game. It is not acceptable to skip Mass because our favorite NFL team has an early game and we want to watch it. In our modern culture, we often approach Sunday with the mindset of how can I squeeze Mass in. With that mindset, it is no wonder Mass attendance is down. We simply do not give it the priority it deserves.
We need to return to a proper ordering of our lives. Sunday needs to once again be made holy. Returning to the Catechism we read, “On Sundays and other holy days of obligation, the faithful are to refrain from engaging in work or activities that hinder the worship owed to God, the joy proper to the Lord’s Day, the performance of the works of mercy, and the appropriate relaxation of mind and body.” (CCC 2185) Sunday should be set aside for the worship of the Lord. That means worship and attending Mass, should be the focus of the day, not something we just cram in or get out of the way. It is the central part of our Sunday.
We also need to work to keep the rest of Sunday holy. Arrange to do your grocery and other shopping on one of the other six days of the week. As much as possible, avoid doing servile work on Sunday. Rest and spend time with the family. Read the bible and pray the rosary as a family. God did not set aside just ONE hour of the day but the ENTIRE day. We need to recapture the day.
Take a moment and examine how you spend your Sundays. Is Mass the central focus of the day? Do you carve out time for rest and time with your family? Perhaps your Sunday resembles the other six days of the week. If that is the case take some time to look at what you have placed ahead of Mass. Ask the Lord in and invite him to help you reprioritize your life so that just like the leper who approached Jesus, your first priority is to worship God on Sunday in the Mass.
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