015 Sixth Sunday of Ordinary Time

Readings

Cycle B 6th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Old Testament: Leviticus 13:1-2, 44-46

Psalm: Psalm 32

New Testament: 1 Corinthians 10: 31—11:1

Gospel: Mark 1:40-45

Homily Theme

Make Me Clean

In the first reading this week, we are introduced to the law of Leviticus in regard to those who were unclean because of leprosy. A priest must declare them unclean and expel them from the community. They may no longer mingle freely with those that are clean and they must live outside the camp. Leprosy condemns them to a slow, painful death and if they see others who are clean they must ring a bell and cry out, ‘unclean, unclean’ as a warning to them. In order to be readmitted to the community they must be declared clean by a priest.

In the gospel, a leper approaches Jesus and begs to be made clean and even though Jesus heals the leper, He sends him to be declared clean by a priest in order to fulfill the law. Let us picture ourselves as a leper with a gaping hole where a nose or an ear once was on an emaciated body with stinking, rotting flesh, condemned to a life of isolation with other lepers. When we are in unrepented mortal sin we have something that is far worse than leprosy of the body. We have leprosy of the soul. We are truly unclean and we are living outside the church community. Will we do anything that Jesus asks of us in order to be clean again

Millions of Catholics no longer go to Mass or receive the sacraments and millions more receive the Holy Eucharist sacrilegiously. If they remain in this state and do not cry out to Jesus to be made clean, they will be forced to live outside of Heaven with other spiritual lepers in Hell for all eternity. Jesus loves us and wants us to be made clean. He will also send us to see a priest in confession who will declare us clean so that we can once again join the church community to receive Holy Communion worthily and live forever as a saint with Jesus in Heaven. He gave the power to His apostles when He breathed on them Easter Sunday and said, “As the Father has sent me so I send you. Receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you shall forgive, they are forgiven........” John 20:22

If you are now in serious sin cry out to Him…

Make Me Clean.