In our gospel reading for the 2nd Sunday after Epiphany (Mark 1:35-45), we find a narrative that reveals both the divinity of Jesus, and his humanity.
The story is set immediately after two other miracles, but what’s unique about this story is that it’s very vivid: we can feel something of the desperation of the sick man, the leper. And this need, this desperation that we see in him, is important for us, because it reveals our own desperation, our own need for redemption.
But let’s focus on Christ; first his divinity. Jesus withdraws to a deserted place in order to pray - a common theme throughout the gospels. But equally common is that people pursue Jesus. Simon follows him, as do some others. Eventually, the sick man in our story also catches up to Jesus.
This man has leprosy, a devastating skin disease, probably the most feared disease in ancient times, because anyone who had it was considered unclean and had to live outside the city gates.
It amounted to living a sort of “living death”1, separated from family, from friends, from the entire community. In fact, healing a leper was compared to raising the dead: it was something only God could do.2
So here’s this man in great need, and he’s heard of Jesus, he’s heard the stories of miracles and healing, and so he goes to him and makes a desperate plea for help.
Verse 4o says it all, it’s a wonderful verse: “And a leper came to him beseeching him, and kneeling said to him, “If you will, you can make me clean” (1:40).
Three things about the way he approaches Jesus are striking: 1 - his posture: he kneels, he’s on his knees; 2 - his language, his words: he “beseeches”, he begs, he implores; and 3 - his faith: “If you will...make me clean”.
It’s a wonderful posture. It’s the perfect posture before God, really, full of simplicity, honesty, and humility. The physical posture, the choice of words, and the faith he places in Jesus’ ability to heal, all attribute a status of divinity to Christ the healer: “If you will...make me clean” (1:40).
I wonder how we approach Jesus. We all have our own brokenness to deal with, both, physical and spiritual. In one way or another, we all feel excluded from friendship with God and neighbour. In one way or another, we’re all living on the outer margins of community.
To use more traditional language, the language of the Bible: “...all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”, says the apostle Paul (Romans 3:23). We too are like the sick man. He was in desperate need, and he literally took his concerns to the feet of Jesus.
The second aspect of Jesus that we see in tonight’s reading is his humanity. This is portrayed in verse 41, where we see Jesus’ response to the man’s plea: “Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand and touched him, and said to him, ‘I will; be clean’” (1:41).
Jesus heals the man out of pity, deep compassion. And this is evident in his touch, a simple human touch.
We need to see here how radical this is. Anyone with this disease was unclean, and anyone who touched him also became unclean. And yet, this is precisely what Jesus does: he touches him. And in doing so, Jesus shares in, he takes part in, the leper’s status of uncleanness. In touching the sick man, Jesus affirms his shared humanity.3
Imagine the freedom this man must have felt, no longer excommunicated, no longer in exile; a new identity, a new man. No wonder he goes out and talks “freely” about it, “spreading the news” (1:45).
The gospel of Mark has one central message, found in chapter 1:15: “...the time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent, and believe in the gospel.”
The sick man in our story fits right into this theme. He knew his status as an outsider. In Jesus, he saw the One who could heal him, and he responded with the right posture before Christ: “If you will...make me clean” (1:40).
And my prayer is - and hopefully this is our prayer as a community of faith - that we see our need for redemption; that in Christ we see the Son of God who is able to forgive sins; that in Jesus we see what it means to be human; and finally, that we would approach him with a humble heart and simple faith.
Amen ✠
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1 John R. Donahue (S. J), The Gospel of Mark. Sacra Pagina Series. Volume 2. (Collegeville, MN: Liturgical, 2002), 91.
2 John R. Donahue (S. J), The Gospel of Mark. Sacra Pagina Series. Volume 2. (Collegeville, MN: Liturgical, 2002), 91.
3 John R. Donahue (S. J), The Gospel of Mark. Sacra Pagina Series. Volume 2. (Collegeville, MN: Liturgical, 2002), 91.
The story is set immediately after two other miracles, but what’s unique about this story is that it’s very vivid: we can feel something of the desperation of the sick man, the leper. And this need, this desperation that we see in him, is important for us, because it reveals our own desperation, our own need for redemption.
But let’s focus on Christ; first his divinity. Jesus withdraws to a deserted place in order to pray - a common theme throughout the gospels. But equally common is that people pursue Jesus. Simon follows him, as do some others. Eventually, the sick man in our story also catches up to Jesus.
This man has leprosy, a devastating skin disease, probably the most feared disease in ancient times, because anyone who had it was considered unclean and had to live outside the city gates.
It amounted to living a sort of “living death”1, separated from family, from friends, from the entire community. In fact, healing a leper was compared to raising the dead: it was something only God could do.2
So here’s this man in great need, and he’s heard of Jesus, he’s heard the stories of miracles and healing, and so he goes to him and makes a desperate plea for help.
Verse 4o says it all, it’s a wonderful verse: “And a leper came to him beseeching him, and kneeling said to him, “If you will, you can make me clean” (1:40).
Three things about the way he approaches Jesus are striking: 1 - his posture: he kneels, he’s on his knees; 2 - his language, his words: he “beseeches”, he begs, he implores; and 3 - his faith: “If you will...make me clean”.
It’s a wonderful posture. It’s the perfect posture before God, really, full of simplicity, honesty, and humility. The physical posture, the choice of words, and the faith he places in Jesus’ ability to heal, all attribute a status of divinity to Christ the healer: “If you will...make me clean” (1:40).
I wonder how we approach Jesus. We all have our own brokenness to deal with, both, physical and spiritual. In one way or another, we all feel excluded from friendship with God and neighbour. In one way or another, we’re all living on the outer margins of community.
To use more traditional language, the language of the Bible: “...all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”, says the apostle Paul (Romans 3:23). We too are like the sick man. He was in desperate need, and he literally took his concerns to the feet of Jesus.
The second aspect of Jesus that we see in tonight’s reading is his humanity. This is portrayed in verse 41, where we see Jesus’ response to the man’s plea: “Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand and touched him, and said to him, ‘I will; be clean’” (1:41).
Jesus heals the man out of pity, deep compassion. And this is evident in his touch, a simple human touch.
We need to see here how radical this is. Anyone with this disease was unclean, and anyone who touched him also became unclean. And yet, this is precisely what Jesus does: he touches him. And in doing so, Jesus shares in, he takes part in, the leper’s status of uncleanness. In touching the sick man, Jesus affirms his shared humanity.3
Imagine the freedom this man must have felt, no longer excommunicated, no longer in exile; a new identity, a new man. No wonder he goes out and talks “freely” about it, “spreading the news” (1:45).
The gospel of Mark has one central message, found in chapter 1:15: “...the time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent, and believe in the gospel.”
The sick man in our story fits right into this theme. He knew his status as an outsider. In Jesus, he saw the One who could heal him, and he responded with the right posture before Christ: “If you will...make me clean” (1:40).
And my prayer is - and hopefully this is our prayer as a community of faith - that we see our need for redemption; that in Christ we see the Son of God who is able to forgive sins; that in Jesus we see what it means to be human; and finally, that we would approach him with a humble heart and simple faith.
Amen ✠
-----
1 John R. Donahue (S. J), The Gospel of Mark. Sacra Pagina Series. Volume 2. (Collegeville, MN: Liturgical, 2002), 91.
2 John R. Donahue (S. J), The Gospel of Mark. Sacra Pagina Series. Volume 2. (Collegeville, MN: Liturgical, 2002), 91.
3 John R. Donahue (S. J), The Gospel of Mark. Sacra Pagina Series. Volume 2. (Collegeville, MN: Liturgical, 2002), 91.
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