by Fr. Ed Liptak, SDB

The readings of Sixth Sunday, it seems, are an extended parable. Moses and Aaron detail the strict law on how a leper must be treated. He is to be declared unclean by a priest. When approaching the ‘clean,’ he must shout out. “Unclean! Unclean!” He must rend his outer garments as a danger sign to others. Worst, he must keep isolated. There is only one glimmer of hope. If cleansed by an act of God, then the leper must go to a priest, undergo certain rituals, and be declared ‘Clean.’

St. Paul was certainly among the ‘unclean’ in his vengeful hatred of the first Christians. Jesus himself took care of that by appearing to him in blinding light and sending him to Ananias for healing. There, in Damascus, the rite of Baptism restored his sight and cleansed his mind and heart, opening him to further instruction from Jesus in the desert of Arabia. Hence, in his letter to Corinth, he could justly say, “Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.” He could tell them to avoid the leprosy of sin lest they make their brothers and sisters unclean, too. Be of Christ! Not of the filth of hell.

These two readings are meant to teach Christians an ugly reality, the uncleanness of sin, and yet the possibility of being cleansed. Moses described the horror of the unclean person of old. Similarly, we cause horror to ourselves by sin. The old ritual of cleansing in Jesus’ time included bathing in the pool of Siloam. For us, sin is bathed away by baptismal water. As for St. Paul, he had to present himself to Ananias, and we are told to present ourselves to the priest for Baptism and the Sacrament of Reconciliation. By the way, to baptize means to cleanse, and Confession often begins with, “Forgive me, Father, for I have sinned.” (Forgive me, God, for I am unclean.)

To end the first chapter of his Gospel of Jesus the Christ, St. Mark adds one more sign of the Savior’s power and selfless dignity. “You can cleanse me if you wish,” said the leper. Jesus responded not by saying,” I do wish it,” but, “I do WILL it. Be made clean.” Thus, Mark’s ‘Jesus the Christ’ betrays his divine origin. By a word and a touch, in compassion, Jesus freed the leper from his dehumanizing state and returned him to family and friends.

So much for the power of Christ, what of his ‘selfless dignity?’ Immediately, not seeking any notoriety, Jesus ‘warned [the leper] sternly’ to say nothing to anyone. In his humility, Jesus wanted no praise. Faith is what he sought. Faith is what St. Mark seeks from us.

I turn to You, Lord, in times of trouble. Fill me with the joy of salvation. (Resp Ps 32:7)