6B, SUNDAY HOMILY, MARK 1:40-45, FEBRUARY 11, 2024
1. STORY
On a cold winter day, an elderly man was waiting for a ride across a
small river. Several horsemen came
riding by. He let the first and second
one pass by without saying a word. Finally,
the old man caught the last rider’s eye and asked for help. The rider agreed and helped the man onto the
horse. The rider not only helped the man
across the river but he also took the man home. The rider asked the elderly man why he let
several riders pass by but waited for him to ask for help. The elderly man said, “I looked into the eyes
of others and knew they would not help, but I looked into your eyes and saw
kindness and compassion. I knew you
would help me.” The rider thanked the
elderly man. That man, Thomas Jefferson,
the American president, turned his horse around and returned to the White
House. He followed Christ’s example.
2. GOSPEL, MARK 1:40-45
A. THE LEPER ASKED JESUS FOR HELP.
The leper knelt down and begged for help. “If you wish, you can make me clean.” This sickness had a profound effect on his life as it separated him from his family, from his friends, and from God.
B. JESUS CURED THE LEPER.
Jesus, moved with pity, said, “I do want to. Be made clean.” The leprosy left him immediately, and he was
made clean. The cure changed the man’s
life as he could be reunited with his family, with his friends, and with God.
3. APPLICATION TO LIFE
A. WE ASK JESUS FOR HELP.
We ask Jesus for forgiveness when we participate at Mass. We ask at the beginning of Mass, “May almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins.” We ask during the Gloria, “Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father, you take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.” We ask when reciting the Our Father, “forgive us our trespasses.” We ask when praying, “Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us. Sin separates us from God, our friends, and our family.
B. JESUS FORGIVES US.
i) Jesus helps us in two major ways. First, at baptism when all of our sins
are forgiven. Our souls are clean
in the sight of God. Second, when Jesus
forgives us through the sacrament of confession or reconciliation. This helps us to understand the importance of
this sacrament. We are united with God,
our friends, and our family.
ii) The cured leper was so happy with this gift and so grateful for what
Jesus had done that he “he spread the report abroad,” and told others. We, too, should thank Jesus and tell others
about what he does for us and in our lives.
4. CONCLUSION
In the story the elderly man asked and received help from the merciful
and compassionate man, President Jefferson. In the gospel the leper asked and received a
cure from the merciful and compassionate Jesus. The cure changed his life as he was reunited
with his God, friends, and family. We
constantly receive forgiveness for our sins from Jesus, especially through the
sacrament of confession. As the cured
leper spread the good news about Jesus, we should thank Jesus and tell others
what a blessing it is to know Jesus.
