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Gospel: Mark 1:40-45
A leper came to Jesus and kneeling down begged him and said,
“If you wish, you can make me clean.”
Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand,
touched the leper, and said to him,
“I do will it. Be made clean.”
The leprosy left him immediately, and he was made clean.
Then, warning him sternly, Jesus dismissed him at once.
Then he said to him, “See that you tell no one anything,
but go, show yourself to the priest
and offer for your cleansing what Moses prescribed;
that will be proof for them.”
The man went away and began to publicize the whole matter.
He spread the report abroad
so that it was impossible for Jesus to enter a town openly.
He remained outside in deserted places,
and people kept coming to him from everywhere.
The Gospel of the Lord.
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One of the best days of my life was the day I was ordained a priest.
I remember people taking hundreds of pictures with their iPhones. It was a special occasion everyone wanted to share.
I felt like you may have felt on your wedding day, the day you held your first child, got into college, or landed your dream job.
When exciting things happen, it’s natural to want to share that experience with others.
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That’s how the leper feels about Jesus in today’s Gospel.
It’s the best day of his life; Jesus has cured his leprosy – and by extension the terrible isolation that came along with it.
Although Jesus tells him not to say anything, this man can’t help but shout the name of Jesus from his rooftop!
He tells so many people that Jesus can’t enter another town without being bombarded by the sick, the lame, and the possessed.
Everyone wants to experience the joy that Jesus Christ can bring.
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Have I had an encounter like that with the Lord?
Maybe he answered a long-awaited prayer; maybe he’s put pep in my step; or, like this leper, maybe the Lord has changed my life entirely.
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These experiences lead to an undeniable Christian trait: joy.
How can we not be joyful once we’ve met Jesus?
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Joyful news must be shared. It’s only natural.
There’s no better news than this: we have a God who loves us, who heals us, who’s given himself for us, and who’s leading us to everlasting life.
How might I share that with others today?
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